Jonathan Ross Addresses Ties to David Walliams and Russell Brand Allegations

POLICY WIRE — London, UK — Jonathan Ross has issued a public statement regarding his past professional relationships with comedians David Walliams and Russell Brand, asserting he had no knowledge of their alleged actions.

The presenter’s comments come shortly after Russell Brand was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for rape and the sexual assault of three other women. Simultaneously, Walliams is facing a wave of claims involving sexually inappropriate behavior, including allegations from two women that the comedian groomed them when they were 15 years old.

Walliams has flatly denied all accusations, stating he is not a sexual predator and expressing deep devastation over the reports published by ITV News and The Guardian. Legal representatives for the comedian also maintain that he did not engage in inappropriate conduct.

In a statement released Tuesday night, Ross expressed his horror at the revelations surrounding both Walliams and the criminal acts committed by Brand. He noted that while he was on friendly terms with both men in the past, he was genuinely unaware of their behavior during that time.

Ross further extended his thoughts to the numerous women who have come forward to share their stories. The scrutiny intensified after an ITV report highlighted a photograph of Ross and Walliams at an event attended by a woman who later accused the comedian of highly inappropriate behavior.

The BBC is currently conducting a comprehensive review of all content written by or featuring Walliams on its platforms. As part of this process, the broadcaster is removing certain programs, including Little Britain. A spokesperson confirmed that the allegations are serious.

Walliams, once considered a national treasure, was awarded an OBE in 2017 for his services to charity and has sold over 60 million copies of his books globally. However, his public reputation has suffered significant damage following the new reports of grooming and misconduct spanning two decades.

Ross also addressed a controversial joke he made at the 2004 Comedy Awards regarding Walliams going home with a teenager. He explained the joke was provided by the writing team and he believed it was an exaggerated reference to Walliams’ history of dating younger women for comedic purposes.

Ross insisted that had he suspected the joke referred to real events, he would have refused to use it and ended his professional and personal ties with Walliams. He stated he would have acted had he known the truth.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy reacted to the reports by stating it is time for industry leaders to draw a line in the sand. She announced she is meeting with senior media and entertainment executives to address harassment and abuse in sectors where power imbalances are prevalent.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)>