Has David Walliams finally wrecked what was left of his career?

[itsnotabouthepasta]

He was part of the taping of the xmas special of WILTY yesterday and did a Nazi salute twice, as "comedy"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg59q1xgv8o

At least the show immediately told him that it was utterly unacceptable and the BBC and production have also condemed him immediately, rather than this coming to light in a few years time.

Combined with this and also being booted off BGT for the way he spoke to contestants, surely there's no way back for him now on telly?

I wonder what his excuse might be. I recall a premier league footballer being photographed doing a Nazi salute and his excuse was that it couldn’t have been a Nazi salute as ‘he’d never heard of Hitler or WW2’ ! Think that appeared on HIGNFY as Ian Hislop indicated that said footballer could only ever have watched 11 episodes of Fawlty Towers.

The candle with the handle, gateau from the chateau, the drug in the jug and the pill in the till was comedy gold.

What sexual gesture was he making?

@JasmineAllen um isn't that slightly missing the point? Does it matter? Use your imagination? It's pretty easy to guess?

I've never liked him since he was horribly rude and quite cruel to a 16yo old on BGT. The boy was a really, really talented singer and he really destroyed his confidence. I was glad to see an article where the boy went back on a few years later and got the golden buzzer but I've never watched it since because of David Walliams!

He’s a creep. The BBC have invested a lot in making his books into tv shows. Publishers have made a fortune out of his books, so he’s protected.

There has been lots of reports of his inappropriate behaviour and language, but those in power don’t care because they are making money out of him.

@Tina294 but in both BGT and WILTY instances he was in a place of work

If someone was sitting in work canteen and being offensive whilst chatting with some work colleagues, do you think that would be okay?

Ice Monster I think?
It was all
Oooo I did a botty burp.

Complete bottom of the barrel humour. Dreadful.

Oh come on!

We’ve been poking fun at nazi salutes for generations now.

Lampooning the nazi regime is a British tradition. See also Allo Allo, Dads Army, Harry Enfield, Fawlty Towers.

No wonder modern comedy is crap- everyone is afraid of causing offence.

Bring back the 2000s!

Not to defend Walliams generally but there was a time when Nazis and Nazi salutes were all over British comedy, with the general recognition that this was mocking Nazism, not supporting it. I don't know what context Walliams chose to make the salutes in, but I am generally inclined to think that making fun of Nazism is one of the best ways to counteract it.

Surely there's no way back for him now on telly?

I'm sure they can create a comedy spot on GB "News" and he can join other kinds of turds.

The reason I'm asking is because the OP said:

I do think the sexual gesture is a massive concern - I can't image any man friend I know, or my husband ever making a sexual gesture in so-called jest - it speaks to a mentality which I find entitled and dark.

which makes it sound quite a full on gesture so I was wondering what he must have done - surely not a wanking gesture (which is all I can think of) because that's pretty tame (although inappropriate for DW to do on WILTY).

Call me old fashioned but I like to know what someone has actually said/done before I judge them.

I can't stand him. There was a thread a while back about how he can be so creepy.
He's a sexist, classist, homophobic, racist, xenophobic, misogynist, ableist fuckhead.

None of the comedies you mentioned were from the 2000s?

And Little Britain has not aged well. Mocking the disabled, poor, elderly, and regularly using blackface?! Hilarious. 🫤

He's been offensive since the 90s and the whole "bitty" nonsense. Hates women, and is just a nasty little man.

Especially that terrifyingly sadomasochistic one about a dentist! Took the audiobook on a family trip (SE to Scotland 🤦‍♀️) five years ago and nearly drove off the road when the torture porn started.

I pasted the context above quoted by an audience member. It was nothing to do with poking fun at Nazi's and was entirely unrelated - they were discussing a female contestant's wrist injury. He also chose to make a sexual gesture.

Also, the point you make may be true, that there was a time when Nazi salutes were acceptable within pisstaking comedy, but times move on. After all, blackface used to be acceptable too.

@JasmineAllen no man I like or respect would choose to make a wanking gesture. I don't think it's acceptable actually. Especially since this was a female contestant's segment, discussing her supposed wrist injury.

That's how I feel about it @Flopistheparentingguru

If its a comedic discussion talking about Nazis and there is context clarifying that you're taking the piss out of them (e.g. Basil Fawlty) then absolutely, go ahead

But in this apparant context? Doing it during a discussion about waving is just friggin weird. There was literally no rhyme or reason. We cannot normalise it. We really cant.

I haven’t watched BGT since he left. He gave so much content to the show.

'allo 'allo was about an occupied french town, occupied by ..... nazis....of course it had nazi salutes.....

Worse than having to read Chicken Licken?

Vile man. Apparently he is universally detested in the publishing industry.
Real shame as my son used to love his books.

Yes, this is where I’m at with it too, tbh.

The description doesn’t sound like he was glorifying Nazis. As other PP have said, there’s a long history of mocking Nazis and their followers.

Same with the sexual gesture, which I presume was wanking. Plenty of comedians have used this in a routine (male and female).

Comedy isn’t supposed to be sterile or sanctified. And it’s ok if it offends some people. There are types of humour I find really unpleasant and offensive.

I think we’re losing sight of the idea that even dark, terrible things can be mocked with humour. You don’t have to like it or find it funny.

Also, I absolutely fucking detest David Walliams. He’s creepy, sleazy, and misogynistic. I probably wouldn’t even have found this gesture funny - but I think cancelling him (again) over this is excessive.

Comedy is definitely supposed to be toeing the line.

That is why it is so hard to get anything made now. Everything seems bland and formulaic.

I think David is hilarious but I agree with you otherwise.