WATCH HERE: Jonathan Ross ‘horrified’ by crime of Russell Brand and allegations facing David Walliams
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An investigative journalist at Private Eye magazine has alleged that a second well-known male celebrity has secured a court injunction shielding him from public reporting of accusations made against him by numerous alleged victims.
Justine Smith made the claim on The Private Eye Podcast, in an episode that was published before David Walliams was identified this week as the other celebrity who had unsuccessfully sought to suppress sexual misconduct allegations.
According to Ms Smith, the unnamed man obtained his injunction several months ago and remains “in the public eye.”
She described the situation as involving “multiple, multiple victims,” yet said journalists were unable to publish anything about the case due to the legal order he had obtained.
Speaking on the podcast, Ms Smith explained: “There are two men at the moment who can’t be named. One for the most recent proceedings, and then one from several months back.
“Both of them, there are injunctions on reporting anything. Both of them (have) multiple, multiple victims. Both of them in the public eye.”
She went on to say she’d “spoken to one of the alleged victims in one of them”, adding that said victim is “prepared to speak publicly and be named.” However, Ms Smith and other members of the media “can’t publish that.”
“He’s managed to get an injunction, very heavily slapped anyone who dares to say anything about it. So we know this man is out there potentially abusing other people and there’s nothing we can do to report it.”
Ms Smith’s remarks followed the revelation on Tuesday that Mr Walliams was the celebrity at the centre of a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News into allegations of sexual misconduct and grooming of teenage girls, some as young as 15.
The 55-year-old former Britain’s Got Talent judge had brought legal action against both media organisations in an attempt to block publication, arguing he posed a suicide risk following two previous attempts on his own life.
Mr Justice Nicklin rejected the application, ruling it would represent an exceptionally serious interference with freedom of expression. Mr Walliams chose not to appeal the decision.
The comedian and children’s author has vehemently denied all allegations, rejected any suggestion of criminal activity, and insisted he has never engaged in grooming young women.
In a letter addressed to journalists working on this investigation, Mr Walliams wrote: “Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with.
“I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely, and it is something that I never did.
“I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had contacted The Guardian and ITV News to ensure any potential victims were informed about how to report criminal allegations to officers.
Mr Walliams has faced professional consequences since being named, including the suspension of his Labour Party membership. Downing Street described the allegations as “deeply troubling.”
Publisher HarperCollins, which had already ended its relationship with the comedian, said it took “the safety of our people incredibly seriously.”
His literary agency, Independent Talent Group, also dropped him following publication of the claims, and the BBC began removing his programmes, including Little Britain, from iPlayer.
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