Neil Gaiman, the bestselling fantasy author behind the comics “The Sandman” and the novels and series “American Gods” and “Good Omens,” has strongly denied ever engaging in non-consensual sexual behavior after several women sexually assaulted him had accused New York Magazine Article.
Eight women accused the 64-year-old British writer of bodily harm, abuse and coercion in a lawsuit Article Published Monday. Most of the allegations came from the late 1990s to 2022, when he lived in the United States, Great Britain and New Zealand. Over the summer, five women — four of whom were interviewed for the New Yorker article — made allegations against Gaiman on the Tortoise Media podcast “Master: The allegations against Neil Gaimanand claimed the author asked her to call him “master” during their alleged sexual encounters.
Gaiman has sold more than 50 million copies of his books worldwide, several of which have been adapted for film and television. The author, who has upcoming projects with Netflix and Prime Video, is one of the first modern comic book authors to attract a large female readership. The allegations made by his accusers contradict the public personality of the self-proclaimed feminist author. Many of the allegations against him involve domineering violence, a feature of BDSM that both parties must consent to, and seven of the eight women interviewed for the story told New Yorker writer Lila Shapiro that they had no interest in BDSM but had played at some point would have along.
Gaimain told the magazine through his representatives that the encounters with the women were all consensual. Then in a lengthy statement posted on his on Tuesday websiteThe “Good Omens” writer and producer said he watched with “horror and dismay” as stories about him circulated online for many months. He said he had remained silent until now “both out of respect for the people who shared their stories and a desire not to draw more attention to a lot of misinformation.”
“I have always tried to be a private person and increasingly felt that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters. “I’m at the point now where I feel like I should say something,” he wrote. “As I read through this latest collection of reports, there are moments I half recognize and moments I don't, descriptions of things that happened juxtaposed with things that emphatically didn't happen. I'm far from a perfect person, but I've never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Always.”
The “Beowulf” and “Coraline” screenwriter said he went back to read the messages he exchanged with some of the women, particularly communications that had been reported as abusive. The messages, he said, “read the same now as they did when I received them – from two people who enjoy completely consensual sexual relationships and want to see each other again.” At the time I was in those relationships, they affected both Sides positive and happy.”
Gaiman also acknowledged that he “could and should have done a lot better.”
“I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, focused on myself, and not as considerate as I could or should have been. I have obviously been careless with people's hearts and feelings, and I truly regret that deeply. It was selfish of me. I was caught up in my own story and ignoring other people’s,” he wrote.
The author said he spent months taking a hard look at himself and the feelings he conveyed to people, noting that he was learning, “trying to do the work necessary” and growing.
“I understand that not everyone will believe me or even care about what I say, but I will still do the work, for myself, my family and the people I love. I will do my best to earn your trust and the trust of my readers,” he wrote.
“At the same time, when I reflect on my past – and when I reconsider everything that actually happened, as opposed to what is alleged – I do not accept that abuse occurred. To reiterate, I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone,” he said. “Some of the horrific stories now being told simply never happened, while others are so different from actual events that they bear no relation to reality. I am willing to take responsibility for any missteps I have made. I am not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I cannot accept being described as someone I am not, and I cannot and will not admit to having done things I have not done.”
Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can find support at RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline. Call (800) 656-HOPE or visit us online.rainn.org speak to a trained support specialist.
One of the women in New York history, drama student Scarlett Pavlovich, said she met Gaiman through his ex-wife, singer Amanda Palmer, when she was 22 and working as a nanny for her son while the family was in New Zealand lived. She claimed Gaiman abused her multiple times, forced her to perform oral and anal sex and called her a “slave.” Pavlovich, who was among the women who first outlined their allegations on the “Master” podcast, claimed Gaiman abused her in a bathtub on his property. She also told New York magazine that she filed a police report in January 2023.
According to the Associated PressNew Zealand police were unable to comment Tuesday on whether Gaiman was or was under investigation.
“In general, the police cannot respond to inquiries aimed at determining whether specific individuals are or have been the subject of a police investigation. “In addition, anyone who makes a complaint to the police has the right to privacy,” New Zealand police told the AP.
Another woman named Caroline claimed that Gaiman had “no boundaries” and alleged that Gaiman attacked her in a hotel room while his son was present. Kendra Stout said she met Gaiman at a book signing when she was 18 and claims the writer raped her in 2007. Katherine Kendall, who met Gaiman in 2012 when she was 22, claimed Gaiman tried to have sex with her on his tour bus and later gave her $60,000 to pay for therapy to “make up for the damage.”
Throughout the New Yorker article, Gaiman's representatives responded to some specific allegations – clarifying some, completely denying others, and calling one of Pavlovich's reports “false, not to mention regrettable.”
Representatives for Gaiman did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment Wednesday.
Gaiman remains embroiled in a contentious custody battle with Palmer, with whom he once had an open marriage and divorced in 2022.