People have been asking the same question for decades. You've seen the skirts, the flamboyant judging on Britain’s Got Talent, and that specific brand of "naughty" humor he shared with Matt Lucas. It’s the elephant in the room that David Walliams has basically spent his entire career feeding peanuts to. Yet, despite the endless tabloid speculation and the public's need to put everyone in a neat little box, the answer to whether david walliams is gay isn't a simple yes or no. It’s actually way more nuanced than a headline.
Honestly, Walliams himself seems to find the whole thing a bit exhausting. In a really candid chat on the Uncomfortable Conversations podcast with Josh Szeps late in 2024, he dropped a bit of a bombshell that reframed the whole "is he or isn't he" debate. He didn't just talk about who he's attracted to; he talked about who he is. He mentioned that if he were growing up today, with the language we have now, he’d probably identify as non-binary.
The spectrum of David Walliams
It’s easy to see why the "david walliams is gay" search query stays at the top of Google. We love a binary. We love a "coming out" story. But Walliams has always played in the gray areas. He’s been married to supermodel Lara Stone, with whom he has a son, Alfred. He’s been linked to a string of high-profile women, from Geri Halliwell to Lisa Snowdon. Yet, he’s the first to admit he’s "camper" than his openly gay Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas.
During that same podcast interview, Walliams admitted he "fooled around with guys" back in the day. He didn't make a big song and dance about it. He just stated it as a fact of his youth. He even joked that "sometimes I think my life would be a lot easier if I was just gay." Why? Because he loves gay culture. He’s drawn to the aesthetics, the humor, and the community. But being drawn to a culture isn't the same as an exclusive sexual orientation.
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He’s previously described himself as "pansexual" in a sense—loving the soul rather than the gender—but he’s also wary of labels. He once told the Radio Times that he hates the idea of a "confession." To him, sexuality can change over the years. It’s fluid. It’s a move from point A to point B and back again.
Why the "Gay Best Friend" Label Sticks
You might remember the rumors about him and Natalie Imbruglia. They were spotted everywhere together in 2015. People assumed they were a thing. But Walliams recently cleared that up, too. He confessed he fell for her "like a ton of bricks," but he was firmly stuck in the friend zone.
According to him, she—and many others—see him as the "gay best friend." It’s a weird spot to be in. You’re a straight (or at least mostly straight-identifying) man who is so flamboyant and comfortable in feminine spaces that the women you’re attracted to don't see you as a romantic prospect. It’s a specific kind of social tax he pays for being himself.
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He’s always been big on "celebrating difference." Think back to The Boy in the Dress. He wrote that book over fifteen years ago. It was about a boy who liked soccer and fashion. That’s basically the Walliams manifesto. You don't have to pick a side. You can be the guy who swims the English Channel and the guy who wears a pink floral dress on national TV.
Moving past the labels
When we talk about the idea that david walliams is gay, we’re usually looking for a "gotcha" moment. But the reality is just a 50-something-year-old man who is comfortable enough in his skin to admit he doesn't quite fit the standard "macho" mold. He likes what he likes.
There’s a lot of power in that. In a world where everyone is forced to pick a team, Walliams is out here saying he’s on the spectrum. He’s mentioned before that he thinks most people probably are, but men are usually more "wound up" about it than women. He’s just stopped being wound up.
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If you’re looking for a definitive "out" statement, you’re probably not going to get one in the traditional sense. He’s lived his life in public for too long to care about satisfying a checklist. He’s a dad, a writer, a comedian, and someone who occasionally feels more non-binary than male. That’s it. That’s the whole story.
Actionable insights for the curious
If you're following the conversation around celebrity identity and fluid sexuality, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Look at the "pansexual" framework. When Walliams talks about falling for a "soul," he’s aligning with what many now call pansexuality. It’s less about the parts and more about the person.
- Understand the "Camp" vs. "Gay" distinction. As Walliams himself has noted, being camp is a performance and an aesthetic. It doesn't always dictate who someone wants to sleep with.
- Respect the evolving language. The fact that he now uses the term "non-binary" to describe his younger self shows how much identity is tied to the words we have available at the time.
The takeaway here isn't a secret reveal. It’s an acknowledgment that the "david walliams is gay" narrative is actually a much more interesting story about gender expression and the freedom to be "a bit of everything."
To keep up with how public figures are redefining these boundaries, you can look into recent interviews with stars like Sam Smith or Emma Corrin, who have navigated similar shifts in public perception. Following the work of organizations like Stonewall can also help provide context on how the language of the "spectrum" is changing for everyone, not just celebrities in the spotlight.