Neil Gaiman faces sexual assault allegations in New York Magazine cover story

In NY Magazine's "There Is No Safe Word," reporter Lila Shapiro interviews 8 women sharing similar claims about Gaiman

Listen to article

Renowned author Neil Gaiman, known for The Sandman and Coraline, faces allegations of sexual assault from multiple women, as detailed in a New York Magazine cover story titled "There Is No Safe Word." The accusations follow initial claims reported by Tortoise Media in July, which included a podcast exploring allegations from five women.

In the latest exposé, journalist Lila Shapiro spoke with eight women, four of whom had participated in the earlier podcast. Allegations range from non-consensual acts under the guise of BDSM to sexual misconduct involving individuals close to Gaiman’s family.

One accuser, Scarlett Pavlovich, shared harrowing accounts of repeated assaults while babysitting for Gaiman’s child. Pavlovich alleges Gaiman coerced her into degrading acts and violated consent, despite his representatives’ assertions that their interactions were consensual.

Another accuser, identified as Caroline, claimed Gaiman crossed boundaries during her time as a caretaker, with an incident involving inappropriate behavior while his child was present. Caroline reportedly signed an NDA and received a settlement of $300,000.

Additional allegations include accusations of rape and coercion from women who interacted with Gaiman in professional and personal settings.

Gaiman’s representatives continue to deny the claims, maintaining that any interactions were consensual. However, the fallout from the accusations has impacted his career. Prime Video shortened the upcoming season of Good Omens, and Disney paused production on The Graveyard Book.

Despite the controversy, Netflix’s The Sandman Season 2 remains on track for release, as does Prime Video’s adaptation of Anansi Boys.

The allegations against Gaiman have reignited discussions about power dynamics, consent, and accountability in the literary and entertainment industries.