The story details accounts from eight women, including Scarlett Pavlovich, a former babysitter for Gaiman’s child.
Pavlovich alleges that she met Gaiman through his ex-wife, musician Amanda Palmer, who asked her to babysit their young son in New Zealand. She recounts an incident where Gaiman invited her to bathe in a garden tub, joined her uninvited, and sexually assaulted her.
Over time, she claims the abuse escalated to coercive and degrading acts, including attempts at nonconsensual anal sex.
Another accuser, identified as Caroline, worked on Gaiman’s Woodstock, New York property. She claims Gaiman initiated unwanted sexual contact while his child was present, describing the behaviour as crossing all boundaries. In a separate account, Kendra Stout alleges that Gaiman raped her during a trip to Cornwall, despite her repeated refusals due to a severe urinary tract infection.
Gaiman has repeatedly denied the allegations, asserting that all interactions were consensual. His representatives have framed the BDSM activities mentioned in the accusations as lawful and consensual between adults. However, the accusers challenge this narrative, pointing to a lack of prior discussions about consent and boundaries.
Pavlovich reportedly maintained communication with Gaiman after the alleged incidents, signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and receiving $9,200 in nine payments. She later filed a police report, though no charges were pursued.
Similarly, Caroline negotiated a $300,000 settlement after leaving Gaiman’s property, but his representatives claim she initiated their sexual encounters.
The fallout from these allegations has rippled through Gaiman’s professional life. While The Sandman Season 2 and the Anansi Boys adaptation remain on track for release, other projects have been disrupted.
Prime Video’s Good Omens Season 3 has been trimmed to a single 90-minute episode without Gaiman’s involvement, and Disney has paused its adaptation of The Graveyard Book. Netflix has cancelled Dead Boy Detectives, although the connection to these allegations remains unconfirmed.
Author J.K. Rowling criticised the literary community’s muted response, comparing the situation to the allegations against Harvey Weinstein. She wrote on X, “The literary crowd that had plenty to say about Weinstein has been strangely silent about Gaiman.”
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
Also Read: Judge approves release of special counsel’s report on Trump’s January 6 case
