From conjuring monsters to being one

Multiple women have come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Neil Gaiman, the author of The Sandman and Coraline, in a New York Magazine cover story published on Monday.

In July, Tortoise Media first reported accusations against Gaiman from two women and released a six-part podcast, Master, which expanded on claims from five accusers. At the time, some women shared their stories using pseudonyms or first names, and no major outlet had corroborated the full extent of the allegations—until now.

An investigative report published on New York Magazine's website, Vulture, titled "There Is No Safe Word", features eight women who describe experiences with Gaiman, four of whom also spoke to Tortoise.

One of the accusers, Scarlett Pavlovich, claims she met Gaiman's then-wife, Amanda Palmer, in New Zealand when she was 22. The two became friends, and Palmer later asked her to babysit their 5-year-old child. Pavlovich alleges that when she first met Gaiman, he invited her to take a bath in a claw-foot tub in his garden. She claims he joined her naked, sat her on his lap, and sexually assaulted her.

According to Pavlovich, these incidents continued while she worked for the family. She recounts one instance where Gaiman allegedly attempted anal sex. "When it was over, he called her a 'slave' and ordered her to 'clean him up,'" the article states. When she protested, saying it wasn't hygienic, she alleges he replied, "Are you defying your master?"

Pavlovich, who did not then view Gaiman's misconduct as rape and sexual assault, remained in contact with him long after and admitted to feeling compelled to reassure him at one point that their interactions had been consensual. She later agreed to sign an NDA and, according to New York Magazine, was paid a total of $9,200 in nine separate payments. In January 2023, she filed a police report accusing him of sexual assault.

'Lawful and consensual'

Representatives for Gaiman told Tortoise Media that "sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism may not be to everyone's taste, but between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful." However, the women allege that Gaiman did not establish consent or discuss boundaries before initiating these acts.

Another accuser, identified as Caroline, worked as a caretaker on Gaiman's property in Woodstock, New York. She alleges that one night, after falling asleep in Gaiman's bed while reading to his child, Gaiman got into bed with his son between them and initiated sexual contact. "He didn't have boundaries," she said, describing the experience as deeply unsettling.

In December 2021, Caroline claims Gaiman's business manager offered her $5,000 to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) and move off the property. She rejected the initial offer and demanded $300,000 instead—a figure Gaiman ultimately agreed to. His representatives told New York Magazine that "Caroline initiated the sexual encounters" and denied "that he engaged in any sexual activity with her in the presence of his son."

Kendra Stout, another accuser, says she met Gaiman at a book signing in Florida when she was 18. Years later, during a trip to Cornwall, she alleges he raped her despite her repeatedly saying no due to an especially painful case of urinary tract infection.

Katherine Kendall, who met Gaiman in 2012, claims he attempted to assault her on his tour bus after she explicitly refused to have sex with him.

Gaiman has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that all relationships were consensual. His representatives have not yet responded to New York Magazine's requests for comment on the new claims.

Gaiman's projects paused

Since July 2024, nine women have accused Gaiman of assault, with the allegations spanning a range of incidents, including claims of nonconsensual BDSM. Multiple projects tied to the writer have been halted or scrapped with many speculating impact from the fallout.

Prime Video's Good Omens, which was originally renewed for a third season in December 2023, is now set to conclude with a 90-minute episode. Though Gaiman reportedly contributed to the writing, he will not be involved in production, and a new writer is expected to take over. Filming for the final episode will begin in early 2025 in Scotland.

Meanwhile, Disney has paused production on its live-action adaptation of The Graveyard Book, based on Gaiman's novel. Directed by Marc Forster, the project's future remains uncertain as Disney has yet to provide any official word on whether production will resume.

In late August, Netflix cancelled Dead Boy Detectives, though it remains unclear if the move was directly linked to the allegations against Gaiman. The streaming giant is proceeding with the second season of The Sandman, Gaiman's popular adaptation of his graphic novel series, set to release later this year.