Lucy Beaumont supports campaign to change UK consent laws as celebs rally around her post

Comedian Lucy Beaumont has publicly backed a campaign calling for a change to UK consent laws, with her post prompting a wave of support from fellow celebrities.

The Taskmaster star has urged people to support the Close The Consent Gap campaign, which wants to make it illegal for adults to have sex with 16 and 17-year-olds when there is a significant age difference.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Lucy Beaumont (@the_one_from_hull)

It comes after Lucy revealed she was one of the whistleblowers involved in an investigation into David Walliams by The Guardian and ITV News. The investigation accused the comedian of sexual misconduct and grooming. Walliams has denied the allegations and said he is “not a sexual predator”.

Lucy clarified that she had never worked with Walliams or personally witnessed any inappropriate behaviour from him. However, she explained that a young person had approached her three years ago to raise concerns about his alleged conduct.

According to Lucy, the individual told her he had been expected to “take young girls” who were “definitely” over the age of 16 to Walliams’ dressing room.

“He felt they were vulnerable,” she added.

Lucy also highlighted what she sees as a contradiction in the current law, using the example of a man in his 60s and a 12-year-old girl to make her point.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Lucy Beaumont (@the_one_from_hull)

“If you have a 12-year-old daughter, in four years a man in his 60s can legally have sex with her,” she wrote.

She continued: “He can’t legally buy her a drink, and he can’t have a nude image of her. But he can sleep with her.”

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Her post quickly attracted support from some familiar faces. Comedian and TV presenter Alan Carr responded with a string of clapping emojis, while Vicky Pattison left a particularly heartfelt message.

“Lucy, from the bottom of my heart… thank you. You’re a hero,” she wrote.

Lucy also encouraged people to follow @closetheconsentgap and get behind the campaign, which is pushing to change legislation that currently allows adults to legally have sex with 16 and 17-year-olds.

Under current UK law, the age of consent is 16, meaning adults can legally have sex with someone of that age or 17, regardless of the age gap, unless other circumstances make the relationship illegal.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Lucy Beaumont (@the_one_from_hull)

Close The Consent Gap wants to introduce a law making it a criminal offence for anyone aged 20 or over to have sex with someone under 18 if the age difference is greater than three years.

Under its proposed changes, this would mean someone aged 20 or above could not legally have sex with a 16-year-old, while anyone aged 21 or older would be prohibited from having sex with a 17-year-old.

“Teachers, carers, sports coaches and faith leaders commit a crime if they have sex with a 16 or 17-year-old in their care, because Parliament accepts that power can undermine consent. Yet an adult with just as much power through money, status, fame or life experience faces no restriction at all.

“We are not trying to criminalise teenage relationships. We are trying to stop grown adults having legal sexual access to children.”

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Featured image via Ash Knotek/Shutterstock