Jonathan Ross says he is “horrified” by the allegations against David Walliams and has addressed the “deeply shocking” joke he made about the comedian “going home with 15-year-olds”.
Ross made the remark at the 2004 British Comedy Awards, where Little Britain – created by Walliams and co-starring Matt Lucas – won the prize for Best TV Comedy.
“The Comedy Awards is 15 years old – 15 years old!” Ross told the audience.
“And like most 15-year-olds, it’s drunk, it’s unpredictable and it’s probably going home with David Walliams.”
Walliams, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and preying on multiple teenagers, was shown laughing as the joke was broadcast on national television.
The clip resurfaced on Tuesday, hours after Walliams was identified as the celebrity who had sought an injunction to prevent the publication of allegations against him. Ross later released a statement saying he was “horrified” by the claims.
He also referred to the crimes of Russell Brand, who was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison at Southwark Crown Court on Monday after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.
Ross said: “I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation. There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct.
Jonathan Ross made the remark at the British Comedy Awards in December 2004, when Little Britain – created by David Walliams and starring him alongside Matt Lucas – won Best TV Comedy
David Walliams, identified on Tuesday as the celebrity who attempted to suppress the allegations of sexual misconduct, was filmed laughing at the joke
“My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.
“I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke I delivered at the 2004 Comedy Awards, in which I made light of the idea of Walliams going home with a 15-year-old.
“The joke was supplied to me by the Comedy Awards scriptwriting team. I believed the punchline referred to the fact that he had publicly dated younger women, with the situation exaggerated for comic effect.
“It was also a tasteless joke that I would not dream of making about anyone today, although that does not change the seriousness of the matter.”
Ross added: “If I had had any reason to believe it referred to real events, I would not only have refused to deliver it, but would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him. I would like to think I would also have acted on that information.”
Walliams has been accused of abusing his status on Little Britain and Britain’s Got Talent (BGT), as well as engaging in “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities” with “a large number” of young women and girls.
He denies any wrongdoing and told the High Court that he would kill himself if his identity were disclosed. The allegations emerged 24 hours after Brand was jailed for rape.
On Tuesday afternoon, Downing Street described allegations of sexual misconduct made by several women against Walliams as “deeply troubling” and said the Government was “concerned” about the use of injunctions. Labour later suspended him as a party member.
Walliams, pictured last month, has been accused of using his status to target girls and young women. He denies the allegations
One accuser, identified as Jade by ITV News and The Guardian, alleges that Walliams sexually assaulted her when she was 15 after contacting her online.
Jade says they met in Soho before he drove her to his home in an Aston Martin. She alleges that Walliams sexually assaulted her at Supernova Heights, the mansion once owned by Oasis star Noel Gallagher.
“He asked me to come over and gave me a hug. That’s when he kissed me,” Jade alleged of Walliams, who was 36 at the time.
“He lifted my top up and sucked on my breast, then tried to put my hand down his trousers. That’s when I pulled away and said, ‘No’. He had an erection at the time,” she said.
“I wasn’t ready for sex. I didn’t want to do that, with him or with anyone. I didn’t want to be touched in that way at all. I mean, I was only 15. It’s a sexual assault. It’s grooming. It’s completely wrong in every way.”
She said she had already told him that she had been sexually abused by someone else as a child. According to Jade, he replied: “Sorry to hear that.”
In a statement to ITV News and The Guardian, Walliams said: “Looking back, I realise that I sometimes behaved thoughtlessly towards people with whom I had casual sexual relationships. I understand that I did not always properly take their feelings into account, and I regret that.
“Although a power imbalance is inevitable when one person is famous, abusing that power is something entirely different – and it is something I never did.
“I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law. I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”