MELBOURNE, Australia — On Wednesday, popular British novelist Neil Gaiman issued a statement refuting claims that he has participated in non-consensual sexual encounters following allegations put forth by multiple women in a magazine article earlier this week. The 64-year-old writer, known for his influential works such as “The Sandman” comic series and the novel “American Gods,” was reacting to a report by New York Magazine that outlined accusations of assault, abuse, and coercion from eight women, some of which were discussed in a Tortoise Media podcast aired in July.
Gaiman expressed his distress at witnessing numerous stories about himself circulate online over recent months. He described feeling “horror and dismay” as he encountered the latest collection of allegations. Gaiman shared his thoughts on social media later, saying, “As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don’t, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen.” He firmly stated, “I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”
In his statement, Gaiman reflected on the past exchanges he had with some of the women making accusations against him. He noted that the conversations seemed to illustrate “two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again.” However, he also acknowledged his shortcomings over the years, admitting, “I could have and should have done so much better.” Gaiman described himself as “emotionally unavailable while being sexually available” and recognized that he had been inconsiderate of others’ feelings, expressing deep regret for being “careless with people’s hearts.”
The majority of the claims concerning Gaiman reportedly took place when he was in his 40s or older and residing in the United States, Britain, and New Zealand. One accuser, Scarlett Pavlovich, shared her experience with New York Magazine, stating she met Gaiman through his then-spouse, performer Amanda Palmer, on an island in New Zealand where the family lived in 2022. Pavlovich alleged that Gaiman assaulted her multiple times beginning on the night they first met.
As a matter of policy, police do not identify individuals who claim to have been sexually assaulted unless those individuals choose to disclose their identity. In related matters, Pavlovich had previously shared some of her allegations in the aforementioned podcast and later reported the incidents to the police in January 2023. The New Zealand Police commented on the situation but refrained from disclosing whether Gaiman was being investigated, citing the privacy rights of individuals who file complaints.
Efforts to reach Gaiman’s representatives, including his agent and Bloomsbury Publishing, which has published several of his recent works, went unanswered. Neither Amazon Prime Video nor Netflix, both of which are slated to release Gaiman-related projects this year, has provided any comment on the unfolding situation. Gaiman has had numerous adaptations of his works turned into films and television shows, emphasizing his prominence within the literary and entertainment fields.
