Renowned author Neil Gaiman has publicly addressed the multiple sexual assault allegations against him for the first time in nearly a year, vehemently denying all accusations and claiming to be the target of a deliberate smear campaign.
Gaiman's First Public Statement in Months
The 65-year-old writer, famous for works including American Gods and The Ocean at the End of the Lane, broke his silence on Monday evening with a detailed post on his official Facebook author page. This marked his first substantial comment on the allegations since they emerged, aside from a brief book-related post last November.
Allegations and Initial Response
The serious accusations against Gaiman first gained significant attention when they were outlined in a July 2024 podcast by the Tortoise Media team. The allegations involve claims of sexual abuse and coercive behaviour from multiple women.
When New York Magazine published its own investigation into the matter in January 2025, Gaiman issued a statement asserting he had "never engaged in nonconsensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever."
To date, nine women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the author. Among them is Scarlett Pavlovich, the former nanny to Gaiman and his wife, musician Amanda Palmer. The couple, who have a son together, are currently going through divorce proceedings.
Gaiman's Detailed Denial
In his lengthy Facebook statement, Gaiman wrote: "I have learned first-hand how effective a smear campaign can be. The allegations against me are completely and simply untrue. There are emails, text messages and video evidence that flatly contradict them."
The author expressed particular frustration with how the allegations have been reported and amplified, stating: "These allegations, especially the really salacious ones, have been spread and amplified by people who seemed a lot more interested in outrage and getting clicks on headlines rather than whether things had actually happened or not. (They didn't.)"
Criticism of Media Coverage
Gaiman further criticised the journalistic response to the allegations, saying he had hoped investigations would "take the (mountains of) evidence into account" but had been "astonished to see how much of the reporting was simply an echo chamber, and how the actual evidence was dismissed or ignored."
Despite the controversy and condemnation he has faced, the author revealed he has found solace in writing again and is close to completing a new novel. He expressed gratitude to supporters, writing: "Thank you again to so many of you for your belief in my innocence and your support for my work. It has meant the world to me."
Professional Consequences
The allegations have already had significant professional repercussions for Gaiman:
- Dark Horse Comics, one of his comic publishers, has dropped him from their roster
- DC Comics, publishers of his famous Sandman series, pulled a planned reprint of his work from their schedule
- A stage adaptation of Gaiman's children's book Coraline was cancelled last year following the emergence of the claims
Throughout his statement, Gaiman maintained his innocence and expressed confidence that the truth would eventually emerge, stating: "One thing that's kept me going through all this madness is the conviction that the truth would, eventually, come out."
