Host David Walliams slams ‘men-only’ fundraising night where hostesses were ‘groped by donors’ as charities hand back cash and Presidents Club closes down
The comedian said he left the exclusive event after his presenting slot and didn't witness inappropriate behaviour
DAVID Walliams has said he is "appalled" at allegations young female hostesses were sexually exploited at a men-only charity fundraiser he hosted.
Undercover journalists at the reported hostesses dressed in skimpy black outfits were groped and propositioned by guests at the highly-exclusive Presidents Club Charity Dinner at The Dorchester Hotel in Central London.
The Presidents Club has now confirmed it will close as a result of the expose.
A statement read: "The trustees have decided that the Presidents Club will not host any further fundraising events.
"Remaining funds will be distributed in an efficient manner to children's charities and it will then be closed."
Host Walliams, who is not accused of any wrongdoing has said he left the event after finishing his presenting slot and is horrified by reports of sexual misconduct.
He said: "Last Thursday night I hosted the Presidents Club annual charity fundraiser. I agreed to host as it is one of the biggest charity fund raising events of the year. I was there in a strictly professional capacity and not as a guest.
"I left immediately after I had finished my presenting on stage at 11.30pm. I did not witness any of the kind of behaviour that allegedly occurred and am absolutely appalled by the reports."
Just after midnight, Walliams took to social media to say that he had been "over the moon" to meet a performer during the event.
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The event raised £2m on the night and has secured £20 million for children's charities over more than 30 years, including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Evelina London Children's Hospital.
But both children's hospitals have said they will return all previous donations from the Presidents Club.
A spokeswoman for Gosh Children's Charity described the reports as shocking and said: "We would never knowingly accept donations raised in this way.
"Due to the wholly unacceptable nature of the event we are returning previous donations and will no longer accept gifts from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust."
One businessman successfully bid £400,000 to place his name on a new high dependency unit at the Evelina.
The fundraiser was dubbed "the slimeball's charity event" by Tory MP Margot James on social media.
A spokeswoman from the hospital said: "We are very alarmed by the allegations about the behaviour of some of those attending the Presidents Club fundraising dinner.
"This is not the kind of event we would wish to be associated with and we will therefore be declining funding from it and returning all previous donations from the Presidents Club."
Leading figures in business, politics and finance attended the event.
Businessman David Meller, who attended the fundraiser, is stepping down from the Department for Education board, minister Anne Milton told MPs.
The move was announced in the House of Commons by Education Minister Anne Milton.
She said it followed "reports of inappropriate and lewd behaviour" at the event and added: "Allegations of this kind of behaviour are completely unacceptable."
A spokesman for the Mayor's Fund for London, which supports disadvantaged young people, said: "David Meller has this afternoon resigned as a trustee of the Mayor's Fund for London.
"The Mayor's Fund for London is not and has never been a beneficiary of, nor has it had any involvement with, the Presidents Club or its events."
Children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi also attended but "found the event extremely uncomfortable" and left early, Ms Milton said.
Mr Zahawi tweeted: "I do unequivocally condemn this behaviour. The report is truly shocking. I will never attend a men only function ever."
Labour MP Jess Phillips, who tabled an urgent question in the House of Commons, welcomed news that Mr Meller was standing down and asked if it was "appropriate" that Mr Zahawi made an appearance.
She added: "What happened is that women were bought as bait for men who were rich men, not a mile from where we stand, as if that is an acceptable behaviour - it is totally unacceptable."
Financial Times reporter Madison Marriage, who went undercover at the event, told BBC Newsnight: "I was groped several times and I know that there are numerous other hostesses who said the same thing had happened to them.
A total of 130 hostesses are reported to have been hired for the event, attended by 360 guests.
The Financial Times reports the criteria for hostesses was to be "tall, slim and pretty" and that they were dressed in skimpy black outfits with matching underwear and high heels.
Debbie Wosskow OBE, co-founder of AllBright, which will be opening the first female-only private members' club, said: "It's shocking that this type of behaviour occurred in such a public way with such senior executives in attendance.
"This is London and it's 2018. The hospitality staff at this event were there to do a job - many of whom were young women and students, and should be allowed to do their work professionally and protected from predatory behaviour.
"This gathering shows that the challenge working women face is much more than just there being more men at the top. Many institutions and men continue to support or are complacent about behaviours that are disrespectful to women."
The Charity Commission said it is looking into the allegations "as a matter of urgency".
Organisers have vowed to investigate claims of "bad behaviour".
A spokesman said: "The organisers are appalled by the allegations of bad behaviour at the event asserted by the Financial Times reporters.
"Such behaviour is totally unacceptable. The allegations will be investigated fully and promptly and appropriate action taken."
What is the Presidents Club Charity Dinner?
The Presidents Club Charity Dinner has been a fixture in London's high-society social calendar for 33 years.
It is highly-exclusive and despite raising millions for charity, little has been previously reported on it.
Last Thursday, this year's event was held at The Dorchester Hotel in central London.
The event was attended by around 360 guests including politicians, businessmen, chief executives and film producers.
Auction items included lunch with Boris Johnson and afternoon tea with Bank of England governor Mark Carney.
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The Dorchester Hotel said it is "deeply concerned" and an investigation has been launched.
"We were not aware of any claims during or immediately following the charitable event," a spokeswoman added.
Artista agency, which recruited the hostesses, told the Financial Times: "There is a code of conduct that we follow, I am not aware of any reports of sexual harassment and with the calibre of guest, I would be astonished."
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