Writer Neil Gaiman accused of gender-based and sexual violence

In a long investigation by “New York Magazine”, several women denounce the supposed actions of the author of “The Sandman” and “Coraline”. Several projects in which he was to participate were put on hold.

Warning: This article contains testimonies of sexual violence. Some passages may be shocking.

Testimonies are multiplying against the British writer Neil Gaiman. After a Tortoise Media podcast this summer collected the words of several women accusing him of sexist and sexual violence, the New York Magazine published this Monday, January 13, a long investigation retracing the supposed actions of this figure of fantasy and SF literature (American Gods, The Sandman, Coraline…)several of whose works have been brought to the screen. New women are speaking out to denounce relationships under the influence between the successful novelist and young fans in their twenties, violent relationships close to BDSM practices, but with blurred limits and contours, and what could be considered sexual assault and rape. At least two complaints have been filed. Neil Gaiman or his representatives dispute the accusations and say the relationships were always consensual.

The article notably relates the story of Scarlett Pavlovich, who was a friend of Gaiman’s ex-wife, and the occasional babysitter of their son. During their first meeting, the writer allegedly insisted that she take advantage of a bathtub installed in his garden, before joining her completely naked. “He put his fingers directly into my anus and tried to insert his penis there, she says. I said, “No, no.” He then tried to rub his penis between my breasts, and I also said, “No.” He then asked me if he could cum on my face and I said, “No,” but he did it anyway. He said, “Call me master and I’ll cum.” He said, “Be a good girl. You are a good little girl.” » Subsequently, the young woman, who remained in contact with the writer, would have suffered several other violent relationships. She reportedly signed a confidentiality agreement not to disclose these facts, in exchange for nearly $10,000.

Gaiman responds on his blog

The New York Magazine also looks back at Neil Gaiman’s childhood spent within the Church of Scientology – his father was the organization’s spokesperson in the United Kingdom. He implies that the future writer would have suffered physical abuse there, then inflicted as punishment within the sect. Gaiman has never spoken about it publicly, but wrote in 2013 The ocean at the end of the road, a fantastic novel in which the narrator delves into his memories as a little boy and recounts numerous acts of violence.

Following the publication of the investigation, Neil Gaiman published a text on his blog on Tuesday January 14. “In reading this latest collection of stories, there are moments that I half recognize and others that I do not recognize, he writes […]. I’m far from a perfect person, but I’ve never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Never. […] At the time I experienced these relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides. And I realize, looking through them years later, that I could and should have done much better. »

Since the revelations this summer from Tortoise Media, several projects involving the author have been put on hold or canceled. In September, Disney interrupted production of the film adaptation of The Strange Life of Nobody Owens (The Graveyard Book). At the end of October, the third season of Good Omens (Prime Video) was reduced to a single ninety-minute episode, and the writer was removed from the production. Until these new revelations, Netflix has however maintained season 2 of The Sandman, scheduled for this year, and Prime Video is still working on the adaptation ofAnansi Boys, taken from the novel cycle American Gods.