Unraveling Myths: Neil Gaiman’s Abuse Allegations Go Mainstream, Threaten to Rewrite His Story

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For several months, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the allegations against Neil Gaiman concerning sexual misconduct. It’s both startling and in some way reassuring to witness major publications finally highlighting these distressing accusations, following years of dismissal by numerous comics news outlets such as The Beat and Bleeding Cool. An article by Lila Shapiro in Vulture and its subsequent coverage by New York Magazine is shedding light on a series of concerning allegations that paint a grim portrait of the creator behind popular works like “The Sandman” and “American Gods”.

The focus of these accusations is Scarlett Pavlovich, a previous nanny for Neil Gaiman and his former spouse Amanda Palmer. Pavlovich’s narrative is troubling, recounting numerous alleged instances of sexual misconduct and pressure. She alleges that Gaiman, who was 61 at the time, first assaulted her in 2022 when she was only 22, in an outdoor bathtub at his New Zealand residence. The reported abuse spanned over several weeks, with Pavlovich describing progressively degrading and non-consensual sexual experiences. Her “open marriage” with Palmer is said to have abruptly terminated during this period.

It’s troubling to note that Pavlovich isn’t the only one making such allegations against Gaiman. The Vulture piece mentions a total of eight women who have made accusations of assault, rape, coercion, or mistreatment against him. These incidents span over several decades, raising concerns about a consistent pattern of behavior that contradicts Gaiman’s public image as an advocate for women and supporter of female voices in literature.

Initial accusations against Neil Gaiman emerged last summer in a podcast series titled “Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman,” produced by Tortoise Media. Since then, additional women have come forward, extending the timeline of alleged misconduct spanning over five decades. One woman alleges that Gaiman assaulted her in Florida in 2005, while another recounts an unwanted and aggressive advance from the 1980s. In response, Gaiman has denied all accusations of non-consensual encounters, with his representatives labeling the claims as “false and reprehensible,” maintaining that all interactions were consensual. However, the large number of accusers and the uniformity of their stories have sparked concerns about the author’s behavior.

As a follower, I’ve noticed an interesting pattern in the response of the literary community regarding allegations. Before Harvey Weinstein was convicted, they had plenty to say about him following numerous accusations from women who didn’t know him. Remarkably, their stories were strikingly similar. However, when it comes to recent accusations against Neil Gaiman by young women who claim to have never met him, the response from this community has been unusually quiet.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 13, 2025

The accounts of these women are richly detailed, often involving dark and disturbing events. A notable instance is that of Kendra Stout, who encountered him during a book-signing event in Florida as described by Shapiro.

18-year-old Kendra Stout journeyed for approximately 4.5 hours to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2003, to attend a reading by Neil Gaiman from his work “Endless Nights“, a sequel to “The Sandman“. Upon meeting him at the signing line, Gaiman started exchanging lengthy emails with her and even purchased a webcam so they could communicate via video calls.

[…]

In 2007, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer went to the beautiful countryside of Cornwall. On their final night there, Palmer developed a severe urinary tract infection that made sitting uncomfortable. She informed Gaiman they could engage intimately, but any penetration would be extremely painful. “It was a firm ‘no,'” she explained. “I told him, ‘You can’t enter my vagina or I might not survive.'” According to her, Gaiman turned her over on the bed and tried to penetrate her with his fingers. She said “no.” He paused for a moment, then penetrated her sexually. At that point, she recalled, “I just went numb.” She remained on the bed until he was finished. (This past October, she filed a police report accusing him of rape.)

The article contains many more disturbing details.

One notable figure within the comic book world, often labeled as a “male feminist,” is portraying a young female character in an unusual and disturbing way – having her simulate the act of licking her own feces. This could be seen as a highly symbolic depiction, albeit one that is questionable at best.

— Valerie D’Orazio (@TheVallyD) January 13, 2025

The influence of these accusations on Neil Gaiman’s career and enduring status is yet to fully unfold. Several events featuring him have been cancelled, Netflix has chosen not to renew collaborative projects, and he was absent from the recent promotions for The Sandman. Nevertheless, with more than 50 million books sold globally and multiple successful adaptations of his work, Gaiman has long held a dominant position in the fantasy realm. History has shown that even powerful figures can experience a downfall when they face credible claims of sexual misconduct during times like the #MeToo movement.

Moving forward, let’s make sure to hear and empower those women who have courageously shared their stories. If what they say is true, their bravery in challenging a prominent figure deserves recognition. It’s also vital that we, as a community, confront the inconsistency between public images and private conduct, and strive to establish safer spaces for everyone, particularly in sectors where power disparities are significant.

Independent of the results of these allegations or whether the media focusing on humor decides to cover this story, the sex scandals involving Neil Gaiman underscore an important truth: even highly esteemed cultural figures are not immune to criticism, and the pursuit of accountability and justice in cases of sexual misconduct remains a significant ongoing effort.

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2025-01-14 19:45