Neil Gaiman Faces Sexual Assault Allegations from Eight Women

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Eight women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault, coercion, or abuse against Neil Gaiman, the celebrated British author known for works like “Coraline” and “Stardust.” The accusations, detailed in a New York Magazine cover story by Lila Shapiro, include claims from Scarlett Pavlovich, who worked as a nanny for Gaiman and his ex-wife, musician Amanda Palmer. Gaiman denies the allegations, stating through representatives that all encounters were consensual.

The allegations first surfaced in 2023 on the podcast “Master” from Tortoise Media. Shapiro, who has followed Gaiman’s career for years, was struck by the contrast between his feminist public persona and the accusations. “Gaiman has for decades described himself as a feminist writer. He is someone who spoke specifically to women, who women felt seen by, and who women felt safe with,” Shapiro said. “So I knew immediately there’s this dissonance between who he says he is and these stories.”

Seven of the eight women interviewed by Shapiro said they had no interest in BDSM, a practice central to some of the allegations. Shapiro emphasized that consent is the defining feature of BDSM, stating, “If just one party consents, then it’s not BDSM but abuse.” Pavlovich filed a police report in January 2023 alleging sexual assault during her time as Gaiman’s nanny, though the case has since been closed, according to a spokesperson.

Gaiman’s career remains largely unaffected, with new projects set to premiere on Amazon Prime and Netflix this year. However, his personal life has been tumultuous, with a protracted divorce and custody battle with Palmer now in its fifth year. The New York Magazine piece also delves into the breakdown of Gaiman and Palmer’s marriage, coinciding with the period when many of the alleged assaults occurred.

In addition to the Gaiman exposé, the issue features other notable stories, including Kerry Howley’s firsthand account of the Los Angeles wildfires and Allison P. Davis’s exploration of a start-up aiming to combat loneliness. Lauren Smiley also examines the case of a mother who cyberbullied her teenage daughter.