The BBC has issued a statement of condemnation against David Walliams after he reportedly made a Nazi salute on the set of the popular comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?.
In a statement, the BBC described the action as “completely unacceptable” and expressed apologies to anyone who may have been offended during the incident, which occurred during a Christmas special episode. They have reached out to Walliams’ representative for a response.
According to a report by The Times of London, which broke the story, the incident happened as Helen George, an actress from Call The Midwife, was explaining to the panelists that her wrist injury resulted from excessive waving on a Strictly Come Dancing tour.
Sebastian Topan, a producer for Times Radio who witnessed the event, told BBC News that Walliams, known for his work on Little Britain, made the inappropriate salute twice during the taping at Pinewood Studios. “It was surprising and shocking to see,” said Topan.
Topan added that the show’s host, Rob Brydon, quickly moved on from the incident, which failed to amuse the other participants of Would I Lie To You?. He described the atmosphere as tense, as the incident occurred early in the recording, affecting the mood for the remainder of the episode.
A spokesperson for Banijay UK, the parent company of Zeppotron which produces Would I Lie To You?, confirmed that the segment would be removed from the final broadcast.
The spokesperson reiterated that any humor attempted through such offensive gestures is utterly inappropriate, regardless of whether it is broadcasted. They emphasized that it was immediately decided that the segment would not be aired, and they apologized to those present at the recording for any distress caused.
The BBC reiterated its stance, stating, “The use of such an offensive gesture is completely unacceptable, and we apologize to everyone present at the recording for the upset caused.”
Previously, Walliams, who served as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent for ten years, was embroiled in controversy following a 2022 investigation by The Guardian which revealed his derogatory comments about contestants. He subsequently pursued legal action and reached a settlement with Fremantle, the producer, concerning the leak of the transcript to The Guardian.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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