Well knonwn writer Neil Gaiman, behind works including “The Sandman,” “Good Omens,” and “Coraline,” is facing credible claims of sexual assault from several women. Over two decades of claims have caused major career fallout and cloud his literary legacy.
Allegations Surface
Tortoise Media published a six-part podcast called “Master,” which examined claims from five women accusing Gaiman of sexual assault, in July 2024 Following this was a New York Magazine cover story, “There Is No Safe Word,” in which four women also participated in the Tortoise podcast while eight others related comparable stories.
Detailed Accusations
- Scarlett Pavlovich: At 22, Pavlovich visited Amanda Palmer, Gaiman’s then-estranged wife in New Zealand and started looking after their child. She claims that Gaiman sexually abused her several times, once joining her in a bathtub without permission and then performing non-consensual sexual actions. Pavlovich says these attacks combining coercion and degradation persisted throughout her tenure.
- Caroline: A caretaker of Gaiman’s Woodstock, N.Y., residence, Caroline claims that when her husband left in December 2017, Gaiman started a physical relationship with her. She describes a situation in which Gaiman reportedly behaved inappropriately very next to his child. Eventually Caroline signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and was paid.
- Kendra Stout: Meeting Gaiman at 18 during a book signing in Florida, Kendra Stout claims three years later their relationship became physical. She says she was raped by Gaiman in 2007 on a trip to the Cornish countryside despite her protests because of a medical condition.
- Katherine Kendall: At 22, Kendall met Gaiman in 2012 and claims he tried to attack her on his tour bus following her declaration she did not want to have sex. Years later, Gaiman apparently paid $60,000 for therapy to “make up for the damage.”
Gaiman’s Response
Neil Gaiman has regularly refuted all accusations, claiming that any sexual activity was voluntary. According to his representatives, BDSM techniques are legal between consenting adults even if they might not be appealing to everyone. Regarding particular claims, Gaiman’s staff has denigrated them as untrue and horrible.
Professional Repercussions
The accusations have had major effects on Gaiman’s professional activities:
- “Good Omens” Season 3: Amazon has stopped filming and decided to end the show with one 90-minute episode eliminating Gaiman from the project.
- “The Graveyard Book”: Disney has halted Marc Forster’s directed movie adaptation.
- “Dead Boy Detectives”: Netflix shelved the show, however it’s not clear if this action directly relates to the accusations.
- “The Sandman” Season 2: Netflix intends to premiere the second season notwithstanding the concerns; there is no official declaration tying the show’s standing to the allegations.
Legal Actions and Settlements
While some accusers have entered into financial agreements together with NDAs, others have filed police reports. Pavlovich reported police in January 2023, for example, but the matter has since been resolved. After talks, Caroline was paid $300,000.
The literary crowd that had a hell of a lot to say about Harvey Weinstein before he was convicted has been strangely muted in its response to multiple accusations against Neil Gaiman from young women who’d never met, yet – as with Weinstein – tell remarkably similar stories.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 13, 2025
Conclusion
Apart from his personal and professional life, the several accusations directed against Neil Gaiman have spurred more general debates on consent, power relations, and responsibility in the literary and entertainment spheres. The whole effect of these discoveries is yet unknown as research keeps on and new data surfaces.