Jonathan Ross at the British Comedy Awards 2004 / © ITV
Jonathan Ross has issued a statement describing himself as “horrified” by allegations against David Walliams and the imprisonment of Russell Brand in recent days.
Yesterday Walliams was accused of sexual misconduct by several young women – including a then-15-year-old who alleged that he initiated sexual contact, claims which he denies.
Brand, meanwhile, was locked up for 10-and-a-half years on Monday after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual misconduct.
Since then a clip has resurfaced from the 2004 British Comedy Awards, hosted by Ross, in which he joked about Walliams going home with a 15-year-old.
In a statement, veteran presenter Ross said: “I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation.
“There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct.
“My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.
“I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke delivered by me at the Comedy Awards in 2004, in which I make light of the notion of Walliams going home with a 15-year-old.
“This joke was submitted to me by the Comedy Awards script writing team and I believed that the punchline was a reference to the fact he had publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect.
“It is also a tasteless joke that I would not dream of making today about anyone, but that is beside the point.
“Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him.
“I also like to think that I would have acted upon that knowledge.”
Watch a clip of Ross’s 2004 remarks below:
