UK author David Walliams dropped by publisher after harassment allegations

FILE PHOTO: David Walliams arrives for a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, March 14, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - David ‌Walliams, a bestselling British children's author, was dropped by ‌HarperCollins UK on Friday after the Daily Telegraph reported ‌the publisher had investigated claims that he had harassed some of its junior female employees.

The newspaper said one of the women who had raised concerns ‍about the 54-year-old had been given a ‍five-figure payoff by the publisher ‌and left.