Neil Gaiman, the celebrated author behind iconic works like The Sandman, American Gods, and Good Omens, is facing a growing storm of allegations spanning nearly four decades.
Women from all walks of life—ranging from a former nanny to devoted fans—have come forward with disturbing claims of sexual coercion, assault, and manipulation.
The accusations, many of which involve Gaiman’s power and influence in the literary and entertainment industries, are reshaping the public’s perception of the acclaimed writer.
The nanny’s harrowing account (2022)
The first major public revelation comes from Scarlett Pavlovich, a former nanny for Gaiman and his then-wife Amanda Palmer. Pavlovich, a 22-year-old drama student, who worked for the couple in 2022, claimed Gaiman sexually assaulted her in a harrowing incident on Waiheke Island. The alleged incident, which took place in February 2022, marks the beginning of what Pavlovich claims was a troubling pattern of coercion and manipulation during her time working for the couple, reported the Vulture.
Pavlovich first met Palmer in Auckland in 2020. What started as a seemingly innocent encounter between the two women, who shared an appreciation for the arts, soon spiraled into a deeply unsettling relationship.
In February 2022, after Palmer invited Pavlovich to help with childcare, Pavlovich found herself alone with Gaiman at the couple’s home on Waiheke Island. What followed, according to Pavlovich, was a terrifying assault.
Gaiman, a towering figure in the literary world with his bestselling works such as American Gods and Coraline, allegedly lured Pavlovich into a bath, where he proceeded to pressure her into increasingly disturbing acts. Pavlovich describes a moment where Gaiman attempted to coerce her into sexual acts, despite her repeated refusals, reported the Vulture.
She recounts feeling “subtle terror” as Gaiman continued his advances, even making demeaning remarks, including telling her to “call me ‘master,’” and insisting that she “be a good girl.”
The trauma didn’t end there. Pavlovich claims that Gaiman later smirked and casually mentioned that Palmer had once told him he “couldn’t have” her, further reinforcing the manipulative dynamic between the three. Pavlovich, deeply shaken, struggled to process the events and says that Gaiman’s behavior left her feeling trapped, powerless, and deeply betrayed.
Fan’s painful experience (2003-2005)
Another woman, identified only as “K,” from Florida, has shared a similarly traumatic account. In 2003, at the age of 18, K attended a book signing where she met Gaiman. By 2005, the two had allegedly begun a relationship. K’s allegations are deeply disturbing, claiming that during their time together, she was subjected to rough, non-consensual sexual acts that caused her significant trauma, reported CBR.
One incident, in particular, involved Gaiman allegedly forcing himself on K despite her objections. K reportedly said that she never wanted nor enjoyed the acts, describing the experience as deeply distressing.
She claims the relationship left her emotionally scarred and that it took years for her to come to terms with what had occurred. K, now an adult, says the relationship was marked by coercion and manipulation, with Gaiman using his influence as a famous author to control her.
The tenant’s coercion (2014-2021)
Caroline Wallner, a former tenant of Neil Gaiman’s Woodstock, New York property, has accused the renowned author of sexually coercing her over several years, from 2014 to 2021, while she and her family were dependent on him for housing and employment.
According to a report by Tortoise Media, Wallner lived in a house on Gaiman’s property, along with her three daughters and husband until 2017. She worked as a ceramic artist in a studio on the property, while also assisting Gaiman and his then-wife, Amanda Palmer, with property maintenance, gardening, and grocery shopping.
The situation reportedly began to change around the time of Wallner’s divorce in 2017. She claims that after her marriage ended, Gaiman informed her ex-husband that there would be no more work available on the property, leaving Wallner and her daughters reliant on Gaiman for both employment and housing.
It was during this period that Wallner says Gaiman began pressuring her for sex, exploiting her vulnerable position.
Wallner recounted a specific incident, describing Gaiman as using his authority to coerce her into sex. “There were little hints of, ‘we’re going to need the house,’” Wallner reportedly said. “That’s when he would just come to my studio and make me give him a blowjob.”
She emphasized that while she did not allege physical force, the coercive nature of the relationship led her to describe her experience as “sexual abuse.”
Gaiman has denied these allegations, claiming their sexual encounters were consensual and instigated by Wallner. His camp asserts that the relationship was based on mutual agreement, countering Wallner’s account.
As Wallner’s situation continued to deteriorate, she reportedly began receiving sexually explicit photos and video calls from Gaiman after he left the property during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In June 2021, when Wallner stopped responding to these advances, she was informed that she would have to vacate the property by December 2021. The settlement between Gaiman and Wallner came swiftly, with Gaiman offering $275,000 in exchange for a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The NDA, which Wallner has since challenged, prohibits her from discussing the case, filing complaints, or sharing details with anyone, including her family. Wallner has stated that she had to sign the agreement under financial pressure and emotional strain, which led her to seek therapy for post-traumatic stress and depression.
Wallner, in a statement, expressed her desire to speak out for the sake of other vulnerable women, saying, “Saying ‘yes’ to an exchange with a powerful, wealthy man when you are vulnerable and fearful is never simple or clear, even if it’s seemingly consensual,” reported Tortoise Media.
The allegations are currently under scrutiny by the UN’s refugee agency, of which Gaiman serves as a goodwill ambassador.
A writer’s memory (1986)
Julia Hobsbawm, a writer and public speaker, has accused Gaiman of forcibly kissing her in an aggressive and unwelcome advance at an event in the mid-1980s, adding to a growing list of allegations against the celebrated author.
Hobsbawm, now 60, said Gaiman, then 25, jumped on her “out of the blue,” forced his tongue into her mouth, and pushed her down onto a sofa in her London studio flat, as reported by the Straits Times.
She managed to break free and severed contact with him afterward, saying that she was certain “romance was not on the cards.”
The larger fallout: Legal, professional, and public repercussions
As the stories pile up, the backlash against Gaiman is swift and wide-reaching. Major projects associated with the author are now facing significant consequences. Good Omens season 3 will conclude with a single episode, with Gaiman removed from production. Disney has indefinitely paused the film adaptation of The Graveyard Book, and Netflix has canceled the Dead Boy Detectives series, though the reasons behind this are still under review. Meanwhile, the second season of The Sandman remains on track for release.
Gaiman’s team has denied all allegations, asserting that the sexual encounters described were consensual. However, the outpouring of testimony from various women suggests a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.
A reckoning for the literary world
The impact of these revelations goes beyond Neil Gaiman’s personal reputation; it touches on a larger conversation about power, consent, and the untold stories of abuse in the creative industries. As more women come forward, their voices are demanding accountability and sparking deeper reflection about the separation—or lack thereof—between an artist’s work and personal conduct.