Neil Gaiman Denies Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Author Neil Gaiman has vehemently denied allegations of several counts of sexual misconduct in recent days as New York Magazine published an article containing claims by multiple women in it. The article dealt with claims that he had assaulted, coerced, and otherwise sexually misbehaved toward women, which he refutes outright. He wrote in a long statement on his website: “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”

The Allegation on Neil Gaiman

Controversy started in July when two women accused Gaiman of sexual assault. One of the women alleged that Neil Gaiman raped her when she was 22. At the time, she was working as a nanny for his family in New Zealand. Gaiman denied these allegations, insisting that all of his sexual relationships were consensual.

A third woman stepped forward, claiming Gaiman coerced her into a sexual relationship after he hired her as his caretaker in New York. She claimed that he pressured her into the relationship to let her live on his property. Further, she claimed he forced her to sign a non-disclosure agreement in return for a payment of $275,000. Gaiman again denied these accusations by saying that their relationship was consensual.

New York Magazine Report Adds Fuel to the Fire

This week, New York Magazine published a report featuring allegations from eight women. Six of these women spoke on the record about their experiences. Four of these women had also participated in the Tortoise podcast series, reiterating their allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion.

In response to these developments, Gaiman issued another statement, this time expressing his horror and dismay over the accusations. He wrote, “Over the past many months, I have watched the stories circulating the internet about me with horror and dismay. I’ve stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation.”

Gaiman’s Defense and Apology

In his statement, Gaiman talked about the scandal, defending his actions and maintaining that all his relationships were consensual. He then went on to add, “I went back to read the messages I exchanged with the women around and following the occasions that have subsequently been reported as being abusive. These messages read now as they did when I received them – of two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again.”

He expressed regret about his actions, admitting he was “careless with people’s hearts and feelings,” but would not concede to the more serious charges. “Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality,” Gaiman wrote. “I am willing to take responsibility for any wrongs I committed. I am not going to back away from the truth, and I will not accept being portrayed as a person that I am not, nor can I and will not confess to things that I did not commit.”

Effect on Gaiman’s Career

The allegations have resulted in some drastic implications on Gaiman’s career. Three screen adaptations of his works were either canceled or put on hold. Netflix canceled production of Dead Boy Detectives, while Amazon delayed the third season of Good Omens. Additionally, Disney shelved the adaptation of The Graveyard Book. Still, no streaming service has announced that the aforementioned actions were directly related to the sexual misconduct allegations.