Neil Gaiman denied all charges against him after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct in a New York Magazine article, writing a lengthy statement that read: Until now. “
In July, Podcast research by Tortoise Media reported allegations of sexual assault against Gaiman by two women. One of the women alleged that Gaiman performed a sexual act on her without her consent when she was 22 years old and working as a nanny for the author's family in New Zealand. Gaiman has vehemently denied any wrongdoing at the time and said all sexual relations were consensual.
After the podcast was published, a woman who worked as Gaiman's caretaker in upstate New York pressured Gaiman into having sex with him in exchange for letting her live on his property and signed a non-disclosure agreement. He claimed to have done so. In exchange for a payment of $275,000. Gaiman said at the time that his relationship with his girlfriend was completely consensual.
New York Magazine reported this week that more women have come forward with accusations against Gaiman, including allegations of sexual assault, sexual misconduct and coercion. The magazine interviewed eight women, including six on record, including four who participated in the Tortoise Podcast Series.
All of the women who spoke to New York Magazine for this record said they had sometime consensual sexual relations with the author, but the author had a penchant for rough sex and BDSM activities and did not necessarily consent to them beforehand. He claimed that he had not done so. Two women who worked for him said they felt forced into the relationship because they worked for Gaiman and lived on his property.
In the full statement In an article posted on his website on Tuesday, Gaiman spoke publicly about the allegations “out of respect for those who have shared their stories and because I don't want to draw further attention to a body of misinformation.” He said he had refrained from speaking, but added: “I've reached the point where I feel like I have to say something.”
While he admitted in a New York Magazine article that “there are moments when I'm half aware and moments when I'm not,” he denied sexual assault, writing:・Consensual sexual activity with someone. Until now. “
Based on my interactions with women at the time, I still believed that my relationships with all of them were “completely consensual sexual relationships,” but I spent many months trying to figure out how I behaved in relationships. He said he reflected on what he had done.
“While sexually available, I was emotionally unavailable, self-centered, and not as thoughtful as I could or should have been,” he wrote.
“At the same time, as I reflect on my past and review everything that actually happened as opposed to what has been alleged, I do not accept that abuse occurred. Again, I do not agree with anyone. I have never had sex without it.”
He said some of the “horrifying” allegations “never happened” and others “are such a distortion of what actually happened and have no relation to reality.”
“I am prepared to take responsibility for any mistakes I have made. I will not turn my back on the truth, I cannot accept being portrayed as someone I am not, and I I cannot and will not admit that I did something that I did not do.”
A representative for Gaiman previously told Tortoise: “While sexual depravity, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism may not be to everyone's taste, BDSM is legal among consenting adults.”
A complaint was filed with New Zealand Police in January 2023 accusing Gaiman of sexual assault, but the investigation was ultimately closed.
Since the allegations came to light, Gaiman's films have been released, including Netflix's Dead Boy Detectives, the third and final season of Amazon's Good Omens, and Disney's version of The Graveyard Book. Three film adaptations have been canceled or production halted. It was under development. None of the streaming services have confirmed that such a decision was made because of the allegations, but Deadline reported Gaiman reportedly stepped back from his involvement in “Good Omens” in response to the allegations.
