Neil Gaiman Accused of Sexual Abuse by Multiple Women

Neil Gaiman, the well-known fantasy author famous for works like The Sandman, Good Omens, and Coraline, is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct. According to a report published by Vulture on January 13, several women have come forward accusing the 64-year-old author of sexual assault, with some claims dating back over a decade.

Among those who shared their experiences is Scarlett Pavlovich, a former babysitter for Gaiman and his ex-wife, Amanda Palmer. Pavlovich explained that she had been friends with Palmer since she was 22. Later, she was asked to babysit the couple’s son at Gaiman’s home in Waiheke Island, New Zealand, while the couple was separated.

Pavlovich alleged that while babysitting, Gaiman made inappropriate advances. She recounted one incident when Gaiman suggested she take a bath. While she was in the bathtub, Gaiman allegedly joined her, fully naked, despite her objections. Pavlovich said, “I told him no. I said I wasn’t confident with my body. He said, ‘It’s okay, it’s only me.’” She accused Gaiman of touching her inappropriately and engaging in further non-consensual acts, including ejaculating on her face and pressuring her to use terms like "master" during the encounter.

Over the course of her employment, Pavlovich alleged that the abuse continued. She described one particularly disturbing instance where Gaiman used butter as a lubricant during anal sex. She also revealed that Gaiman’s young son began calling her “slave” and ordering her to refer to him as “master.” According to Pavlovich, Gaiman even engaged in sexual acts with her in a hotel room while his child was present.

This is not the first time Gaiman has faced accusations. Allegations surfaced in July 2023 when a podcast, Master, featured six episodes detailing the stories of five women who accused the author of sexual assault. One of those women, identified as Caroline, worked as a caretaker at Gaiman and Palmer’s Woodstock, New York home. Caroline admitted that she initially consented to a physical relationship with Gaiman, which included phone sex. However, she claimed that Gaiman repeatedly overstepped boundaries. In one instance, she said she fell asleep reading to Gaiman’s son in his bed. When Gaiman came home, he allegedly climbed into the bed and placed her hand on his genitals, despite the child being present.

Caroline described Gaiman’s behavior as troubling, saying, “He didn’t have boundaries. I remember thinking there was something really wrong with him.”

Another woman, Katherine Kendall, shared her story about meeting Gaiman in 2012 at the age of 22. She alleged that Gaiman attempted to have sex with her on his tour bus and later gave her $60,000 for therapy, which she described as an attempt to “make up for the damage.” Yet another woman, Kendra Stout, claimed that Gaiman raped her in 2007 after meeting her at a book signing when she was just 18 years old.

Some of the women reported that Gaiman’s team tried to silence them through non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and monetary settlements. Caroline revealed that in December 2021, Gaiman’s business manager offered her $5,000 if she signed an NDA and moved off the property. Pavlovich said she also signed an NDA and received $9,200 in separate payments. While Pavlovich filed a police report against Gaiman in January 2023, the case was closed due to a lack of cooperation from Gaiman and Palmer, though Gaiman did provide a written statement to the authorities.

Gaiman has denied all allegations of misconduct since they were first made public in 2023. Despite his denials, the accusations have had professional consequences. The author recently stepped back from production of the third season of Amazon Prime Video’s Good Omens, which is based on his work.

The situation continues to draw attention, with many fans and industry insiders expressing shock at the claims against the celebrated author. As more women come forward with their accounts, the controversy surrounding Neil Gaiman raises important conversations about accountability and abuse of power in the literary world.

Gaiman has yet to make any additional statements following the latest round of allegations, but the impact of these claims is undeniable as they add a troubling shadow to the legacy of one of the most beloved names in fantasy literature.