Schools and Libraries Remove David Walliams Books Following Misconduct Allegations

Educational institutions, public libraries, and retailers are facing difficult choices regarding the books of bestselling children's author and comedian David Walliams. School leaders report that several campuses have already chosen to pull his titles from their shelves following reports published by ITV News and the Guardian detailing accusations of sexual misconduct and abuses of power against him. Walliams, who has sold more than 50 million copies of works like Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, has denied the allegations, stating in a letter that he is not a sexual predator and has not broken the law.

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, called on the government to issue national guidance so that individual head teachers do not have to make these complex choices alone. Darren Morgan, head of Kings Road Primary School in Manchester, stated that while the stories previously promoted reading, the current allegations make keeping them accessible very difficult. Meanwhile, Steve Chalke of Oasis Academies noted that seeing the author's name or photograph in a library can potentially be traumatising for some children.

Opinions on how to handle the situation remain divided within the literary community. Author Chloe Combi argued that banning the books is not appropriate and could prevent important discussions from happening, suggesting instead that parents use the situation to talk to their children. Retailers such as Waterstones, TG Jones, and The Works have halted sales, and publisher HarperCollins severed ties with Walliams in September. Public library policies vary by region; while Camden Council has moved the books into storage to promote safety for women and girls, other councils like Kent and Surrey have kept the titles available since the content is not illegal and demand still exists.