David Walliams faces backlash for offensive Nazi salute on BBC's Would I Lie To You?

Time of India

2 days ago

David Walliams reportedly made two Nazi salutes during the recording of the BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie To You? this week, leading to the segment being cut and drawing condemnation from the BBC as well as the show's production company. The incident occurred during a segment featuring Helen George, who was sharing a story about injuring her wrist while waving.
Walliams joined in with increasingly exaggerated waves that culminated in the offensive gesture. The Nazi salute incident took place at Pinewood Studios on Tuesday (June 10) during the recording of the Christmas special, was witnessed by audience members.
The BBC and Banijay UK, the production company, have issued an apology while condemning Walliams. The BBC described David Walliams's actions as "unacceptable" and added the segment would not be on air.
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The offensive Nazi salute
The comedian and children's author made the gestures during a segment in which a fellow panellist discussed a story about injuring their wrist while waving. Walliams reportedly joined in with increasingly vigorous waves, which culminated in him holding out his arm in a Nazi salute.
The former Britain's Got Talent judge was on the panel for the BBC One show's Christmas special, which was recorded at Pinewood Studios on Tuesday.
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Journalist Sebastian Topan, who was in the audience, contacted the BBC to describe what happened.
One part of the show saw Call The Midwife actress Helen George, who took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, being given a prompt to suggest she had sprained her wrist "from waving too much during the Strictly tour".
She then had to try to convince the opposing team that her anecdote was true.
After demonstrating the wave, which purportedly left her with an injury, she was told that it was "too little" and was encouraged to make a bigger gesture.
"Some other panellist was talking when David Walliams started doing the Nazi salute," Topan told the BBC. "I was shocked at what I had seen."
According to Topan, there were "patches of quietened gasps and awkward half-laughs and broken clapping" in the audience.
The show's host, Gavin & Stacey star Rob Brydon, then told Walliams the show would be broadcast before the 9pm watershed, effectively suggesting his behaviour was not suitable for a family TV audience.
As the discussion about George's experience continued, Walliams made the gesture again, adding a sexual gesture with his other hand.
The exchange reportedly landed awkwardly in the studio.
"The atmosphere was uncomfortable and weird," Topan said.
"I think Rob Brydon wanted to get past it as quickly as he could. David Walliams' team-mates looked unsure what to do and were not laughing... It was like an elephant in the room after that as the incident was early on in the recording and so the remainder of the show felt weird."
Another audience member posted on X after the recording: "I didn't have David Walliams doing a Nazi salute at the Would I Lie To You? Christmas taping on my 2025 bingo card."
Banijay UK, which owns the show's production company Zeppotron, issued a statement regarding the incident.
"Any attempt at humour regarding this deeply offensive gesture, whether broadcast or not, is completely unacceptable in any context."
"It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances and we apologise to those who were at the recording for any offence caused.'