Celebrity
Lou Teasdale Alleges Girls Were Silenced With NDAs Before Being Left Alone With Famous Men
Lou Teasdale Claims Girls’ Safety Was Overlooked Around Famous Men
Former Britain’s Got Talent make-up artist Lou Teasdale has claimed that young girls being made to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) was a common practice in the industry.
The celebrity hair and make-up stylist, 43, who worked on BGT and The X Factor, mentioned that it was “standard protocol” for girls to sign NDAs and have their phones taken from them before being left alone with a famous man.
The message came as the fallout from the David Walliams scandal continued today, with broadcasters being blamed for not acting on allegations that he groomed teenage girls and after Russell Brand being sentenced for rape and sexual assault earlier this week.
Lou shared the same workplace with David during the time of Britain’s Got Talent, and in 2020 it was revealed that they had a short relationship.
Lou, who is currently dating Andy Carroll, who recently opened up about his experience with sexual assault, mentioned that she is keen on exposing the culture where “a man’s privacy is being given more importance than a woman’s safety”.
Lou Teasdale Questions Whether NDAs Stop Rape Victims From Speaking Out
A mother of one argued that she was not blaming any of her ex-bosses or coworkers; however, she appealed to her followers for assistance in safeguarding young girls. On Instagram, she said, “It is widely known and generally agreed that girls should sign NDAs and have their phones taken away from them before they are left alone with a famous man.” “I do not accuse any of the people I worked with of ill intentions,” she added. “Nevertheless, I am referring to a culture that is living and thriving, quite legally, in which a celebrity man’s privacy is regarded as more important than a woman’s safety.” “When it has been agreed beforehand that the woman’s voice will be taken away and the device that would keep her safe, how can a man be expected to behave with any accountability?” “We should be encouraging women to speak up, but can someone please clarify this? If you have signed an NDA and you get raped, are you still allowed to speak up? I can assume that there are many victims who are scared to do so because of the fear of litigation,” she said. Alongside her post, she wrote, “Many individuals from the music industry, such as security guards, label bosses, lawyers and managers in my followers, will there be changes made to NDAs to better protect talents from issues regarding personal behaviour and sex? Dermot McNamara, a television agent, stated that he contacted the authorities and broadcasters with his report of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ against Walliams, which he alleges took place at that time.
Agent Accuses Broadcasters of Covering Up Walliams Allegations
But he claimed no action was apparently taken, and Walliams was permitted to remain on screen for ‘many, many years’ and also ‘be involved with other young people’.
Mr McNamara is defending a person who it is alleged to have been groomed by the ex-BGT judge, who is now alleged to have committed misconduct and be unprofessional as a man in a position of power.
A further woman has said that her encounter with Walliams when she was at the age of 15 made her think that the incident was a ‘sexual assault’. She was not the only one among the others that accused Walliams, the television personality, of ‘grooming’ them during their teenage years.
Mr McNamara, speaking about a former client of his, told Newsnight BBC: “Her first meeting with David Walliams was when she was 16. He followed the girl on social media, then invited her to Britain’s Got Talent screenings and introduced her to the judges, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. Besides that, there were photos of her backstage with a group of friends her age, still looking very young.
‘Following on from that, she was then invited along with another girl to David Walliams’s home, and something inappropriate happened – or, as far as she is concerned, something inappropriate happened.’
And he added that due to this, she began having problems with mental health and wellbeing that made it hard to see this person in the media, still getting jobs, still being able to conduct himself in public life, raising money for charity, and being allowed in people’s classrooms, school rooms, and children’s bedrooms with the books.
Mr McNamara said, ‘I think the enablement around it all, how everyone was very scared to say anything about it, was real and true – and I know that was a frightening time for her and also many of the girls and women involved.’
Presenter Victoria Derbyshire then asks him, ‘Did you report this?’ and Mr McNamara, ‘I reported it to authorities and broadcasters. ”’Did anything happen?’ Victoria Derbyshire, in turn, said.
Lucy Beaumont Calls for Better Safeguarding After Walliams Allegations
But he claimed no action was apparently taken, and Walliams was permitted to remain on screen for ‘many, many years’ and also ‘be involved with other young people’.
Mr McNamara has been speaking for a person allegedly groomed by the ex-BGT judge David Walliams who is facing allegations of sexual misconduct and misusing his position.
Another lady said that an alleged incident with Walliams when she was only 15 made her feel that the whole thing was a ‘sexual assault’. Others also accused the presenter of ‘grooming’ them as teenagers.
Mr McNamara described this lady to the BBC’s Newsnight in the following way: ‘She met David Walliams for the first time when she was 16. He followed the girl on social media platforms, after which he invited her to Britain’s Got Talent screenings and introduced her to the judges, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon; besides that, there were photos; the girl was invited backstage with a group of friends of similar ages, still very young-looking.
‘Following on from that, she was then invited along with another girl to David Walliams’s home, and something inappropriate happened – or, from her perspective, something that was inappropriate occurred.’
He went on to mention that because of this, she started having trouble with her mental health and well-being that made it difficult for her to see a person in the media, still getting jobs, still being around in public life, raising money for charity, and being allowed in people’s classrooms, schoolrooms, and children’s bedrooms with the books.
Mr McNamara concluded the interview as quoted in the following way: ‘I think the enablement of all of it, the fact that everyone was very scared to speak out about it, was real and true – and I know that was a frightening time for her and also many of the girls and women involved.’
Presenter Victoria Derbyshire then asks him, ‘Did you report this? ‘, and Mr McNamara, ‘I reported it to authorities and broadcasters. ‘
‘Did anything happen?’ Victoria Derbyshire, in turn, said.
Lucy Beaumont Reveals Whistleblowing Over Walliams Concerns
I don’t know Walliams at all; I’ve never collaborated with him, but it’s been a really strange day for me. It’s kind of odd, since 3 years ago, this person who was a youngster and had only just landed their first job on TV ended up working on a program that he was part of. It turned out that the next show the young person was involved with was also mine.
They took me aside and said, “I need to tell somebody something,” and then confided in me. The revelation was about some behaviour on Walliams’ part that they were alarmed by.
Ms Beaumont reminded the incident as the youngster told her that “there were times when they had to bring young girls to Walliams’s dressing room who were definitely over the age of 16,” adding: “He thought they were vulnerable.” She said, “At the time, he didn’t think there was a process, a way to let people know within the TV company what was happening and how he felt, and I was really worried.”
Born in Hull, the celebrity went on: “I did as much as I could do privately. When I hear about a rumour, I do whatever it takes. Still, you can only do so much. I’m not a policeman. Nothing seems to be illegal.”
“But that was a really scary thing for me, and I was one of the whistleblowers. I was one of the persons who disclosed to The Guardian.”
Ms Beaumont stated further, “There’s no proper duty of care. There isn’t a social service that you deal with, and a part of the reason is because this business is so well-managed.”
She stated, “These things slip through the net because, I think, there will be now, but there isn’t now a process that one could use.”
