David Williams is Seeking “Significant Damages” Due to His Abrupt ‘BGT’ Departure
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Former Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams is suing the show due to his alleged forced 2022 resignation. Now, Walliams has lawyered up and is in the process of suing the show’s production company, Fremantle.
David Walliams Allegedly Sues Britain’s Got Talent
David Walliams is currently fighting back against Britain’s Got Talent. He’s currently seeking “significant damages” due to his abrupt departure from the ITV show.
For those who may not remember, Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams departed from the show’s judging panel in 2022. Originally, it was stated that Walliams left the show because it was “time to move on and focus on his other projects”. But, it’s important to remember that his resignation came soon after a highly public leak.
The leaked footage, recorded in 2020, featured Walliams making disrespectful remarks about a contestant to the other judges. Said comments were picked up on a microphone that’s used to record conversations between judges.
Now, alongside his lawyers, he’s arguing that his comments were “part of private conversations that were never intended for broadcast.”
Walliams and his lawyers took BGT’s production company, Fremantle to court over the situation on Thursday, September 21 as per The Sun. At this time, it’s been revealed that the former judge is accusing Fremantle of a “data protection breach” due to the leaked transcript that ended his career on the ITV show.
The Audio That Got Him Axed From the Show
In November 2022, a reliable source that reviewed transcripts from Britain’s Got Talent in 2020, accused Walliams of making disrespectful remarks. At the time, it was revealed that Walliams made these remarks toward fellow judges, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and Simon Cowell.
The audio allegedly caught Walliams using slurs in three different episodes. One comment he made in particular was directed towards a female contestant during the auditions.
“She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*ck them, but you don’t,” Walliams reportedly said. “She thinks you want to f*ck her, but you don’t. It’s the last thing on your mind.”
Also during the same episode, the judge called a senior citizen a “c*nt,” after the performer had finished his audition. Walliams allegedly called the contestant a “c*nt,” three times after the performer made a snide remark to the judge.
Following the leak of the transcripts, Walliams issued an official apology. Within the apology, revealed that he didn’t plan for the comments to be recorded and is strongly against the action.
“I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.” Walliams said. “These were private conversations and like most conversations with friends, were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”
Now, with Bruno Tonioli in his place on the judging panel, Walliams is seeking “significant damages” in court.
