A woman from New Zealand has initiated three civil lawsuits against renowned British author Neil Gaiman and his wife, Amanda Palmer. She accuses Gaiman of repeatedly committing sexual assault while she was employed as their nanny and babysitter. The lawsuits were filed in federal courts located in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York on Monday.
The woman, identified as Scarlett Pavlovich, disclosed her identity during an interview with New York Magazine, which published an article in January that detailed claims from eight women regarding experiences of assault, coercion, and abuse. Pavlovich asserts that she was homeless and residing on a beach when she met Palmer in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2020, at the age of 22.
According to the court documents, Gaiman’s wife invited Pavlovich to their residence on Waiheke Island. Initially, she was tasked with running errands, babysitting their son, and assisting with household chores, ultimately becoming the family’s nanny. Pavlovich alleges that during their first meeting in February 2022, Gaiman sexually assaulted her. The incidents reportedly persisted, but she continued her employment due to her financial struggles and because Gaiman promised to support her writing ambitions.
When Pavlovich confided in Palmer about the assaults, she claims that Palmer disclosed that numerous women had previously informed her about Gaiman’s sexual abuse. The assaults only ceased when Pavlovich expressed suicidal thoughts to Palmer. After leaving the family, she once again found herself homeless, although the lawsuits mention that Gaiman later compensated her for her work and helped with her rent for a few months.
The lawsuits allege that Palmer was aware of Gaiman’s sexual inclinations and knowingly introduced Pavlovich to him, anticipating that he would assault her. Pavlovich is claiming violations of federal human trafficking laws and is seeking damages of at least $7 million.
Following the publication of the New York Magazine article, Gaiman issued a statement in January vehemently denying any involvement in non-consensual sexual acts. He reiterated this stance in a post on Tumblr, stating, “I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.” Earlier accusations presented by four of the women had been aired in a podcast produced by Tortoise Media in July.
As of Monday, representatives for both Gaiman and Palmer have not responded to requests for comments, and court records do not list any legal representatives for them concerning these lawsuits. While Pavlovich’s attorneys indicated that Gaiman is a resident of Menomonie, Wisconsin, the current residence of Palmer remains unclear, with speculation she may reside in either Massachusetts or New York.
Pavlovich also mentioned that she filed a police report against Gaiman for sexual assault in January 2023, although authorities have not confirmed any ongoing investigations related to him. Gaiman has collaborated with various publishing houses over his career, and following these allegations, two of them—HarperCollins and W.W. Norton—have declared they will not publish his works in the future, while others, including Bloomsbury, have yet to make a public statement.
In January, Dark Horse Comics announced the halt of an illustrated series based on Gaiman’s novel “Anansi Boys,” with the seventh installment out earlier that month. Meanwhile, Disney has temporarily suspended a planned adaptation of “The Graveyard Book,” although Netflix continues to plan for a second season based on “The Sandman.”
