A woman from New Zealand has brought forward three civil lawsuits against notable British author Neil Gaiman, alleging that he sexually assaulted her multiple times during her tenure as a babysitter and nanny for his family. Scarlett Pavlovich lodged these lawsuits in federal courts located in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York this past Monday.
Pavlovich chose to come forward publicly, revealing her identity in an interview with New York Magazine. In January, the publication featured a story that included allegations of assault and coercion from eight women against Gaiman. It was in Auckland, New Zealand, where Pavlovich, then aged 22 and without a home, met Amanda Palmer in 2020. Palmer subsequently invited her to the couple’s residence on Waiheke Island, where Pavlovich began performing errands, babysitting their child, and managing various household tasks, eventually assuming the role of their nanny.
According to the lawsuits, Gaiman allegedly first assaulted Pavlovich on the very night they were introduced in February 2022. Despite these repeated assaults, Pavlovich continued to work for them due to financial hardship and Gaiman’s promises to assist her career as a writer. When she confided in Palmer about the attacks, she claims Palmer revealed that she had heard similar accusations from over a dozen other women regarding Gaiman’s behavior.
The alleged abuse ceased only after Pavlovich threatened self-harm, prompting her departure from the family. Though she found herself homeless once more, the legal documents assert that Gaiman later compensated her for her work and helped with her rent for several months. The lawsuits allege that Palmer was aware of Gaiman’s sexual predilections and introduced Pavlovich to him with the knowledge that he might assault her. Pavlovich claims that their actions violated federal human trafficking laws, and she is seeking damages exceeding $7 million.
In response to the article published by New York Magazine, Gaiman issued a statement in January denying all allegations of non-consensual sexual activity. He reiterated this assertion through a post on Tumblr, where he described himself as far from perfect but firmly denied any involvement in non-consensual sexual interactions.
As of now, representatives for both Gaiman and Palmer have not provided responses to inquiries regarding the lawsuits, and there are no attorneys listed for them in the court records. Pavlovich’s legal team has indicated that Gaiman resides in Menomonie, Wisconsin, while there is uncertainty over Palmer’s current location, whether in Massachusetts or New York.
Pavlovich also mentioned to New York Magazine that she had filed a police report in January 2023 against Gaiman for sexual assault, although law enforcement has yet to confirm any investigation into him. Gaiman has collaborated with various publishing houses over the years; notably, HarperCollins and W.W. Norton have stated they will not publish his works moving forward, while Bloomsbury has refrained from commenting. Additionally, Dark Horse Comics announced it would halt publication of its illustrated adaptation of Gaiman’s book “Anansi Boys,” with its seventh edition having been released just prior in January.
In the realm of adaptations, Disney has suspended its plans for a movie based on Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book,” whereas Netflix is still on track to release a second season of “The Sandman.”
