WARNING: This text accommodates particulars of sexual assault and should have an effect on those that have skilled sexual violence or know somebody affected by it.
Author Neil Gaiman has responded to critical allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation made towards him this week, admitting that he acknowledged some occasions however claiming that he has by no means engaged in non-consensual sexual exercise.
In a greater than 10,000 phrase exposé printed Monday by Vulture, New York Journal’s tradition part, quite a few girls got here ahead to accuse Gaiman of sexual assault, describing encounters that ranged from sexual coercion to violent situations of rape.
The alleged victims embrace former followers, a former live-in babysitter for Gaiman’s son, and a divorced mom of three who was counting on Gaiman for housing.
One lady mentioned Gaiman sexually assaulted her in a tub in his backyard after she advised him she was homosexual and had been sexually abused when she was a young person.
Gaiman, a well known author of science fiction and fantasy, has lengthy been considered as a feminist ally, a fame that a few of the girls within the New York Journal article mentioned impressed them to belief him previous to the assaults.
The allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse described within the article stretch again a long time, and a few of the alleged behaviour and assaults occurred whereas Gaiman’s younger son was within the room, in line with the article. Gaiman, by way of his representatives, was quoted as vehemently denying these particular occasions within the New York Journal article.
Gaiman responds
The creator, identified for properties corresponding to Coraline and American Gods, responded to the allegations on Tuesday in a weblog put up on his web site. He mentioned he has been watching the tales emerge with “horror and dismay” and that he would not “settle for there was any abuse.”
“As I learn by way of this newest assortment of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I do not, descriptions of issues that occurred sitting beside issues that emphatically didn’t occur. I am removed from an ideal individual, however I’ve by no means engaged in non-consensual sexual exercise with anybody. Ever,” he wrote.
He mentioned he had reread messages exchanged “with the ladies round and following the events which have subsequently been reported as being abusive” and mentioned they nonetheless seem to replicate consensual relationships to him.
The New York Journal article expands upon allegations first raised in a six-episode podcast sequence from Tortoise Media in the summer and early fall of 2024, during which 5 girls described receiving undesirable sexual advances from Gaiman, a few of which they mentioned escalated to sexual assault.
Gaiman beforehand acknowledged a few of the encounters came about, however characterised them as consensual BDSM relationships.
Within the wake of the preliminary allegations, a number of productions linked to Gaiman properties had been paused. A Disney movie adaptation of Gaiman’s YA novel The Graveyard Guide was paused, according to IndieWire, and the Prime Video Collection Good Omens, primarily based on Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel, had its third season positioned on maintain in September.
After Gaiman reportedly stepped again from the manufacturing, according to Variety, Prime Video acknowledged in October that the third season of Good Omens would consist of 1 90-minute episode.
At the moment, an adaptation of Gaiman’s novel Anansi Boys continues to be upcoming from Amazon Prime Video, and the second season of Netflix’s The Sandman, primarily based on Gaiman’s work, is predicted to land this 12 months.
Neither Amazon Prime Video nor Netflix have responded to CBC’s request for remark.
For anybody who has been sexually assaulted, there may be assist accessible by way of disaster strains and native assist providers by way of the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you happen to’re in quick hazard or concern on your security or that of others round you, please name 911.
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