This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Neil Gaiman has responded to the allegations of abuse leveled against him by a former babysitter, with a new court declaration revealing several messages sent to him by his accuser, Scarlett Pavlovich. The Sandman author has always denied the charges against him and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer, since the pair were sued for alleged sexual assault and trafficking.
As per Variety, Gaiman wrote in his declaration, "None of Pavlovich's claims are true. She is a fantasist who has fabricated a tale of abuse against me and Ms. Palmer."
To support his case, Gaiman provided numerous messages that he had received from Pavlovich which painted a very different picture to that which has been recounted in court documents. While Gaiman has not denied intimate encounters with the plaintiff, he says that the messages prove that those were completely consensual. One message from February 2022 from Pavlovich reads:
"Thank you for a lovely lovely night - wow x."
Another message sent a few days later follows this up with, "Let me know if you want me to run a bath... I am consumed by thoughts of you, the things you will do to me. I'm so hungry."
Related Disney Halts Neil Gaiman Adaptation Amid Allegations
The pause in development comes amid the author being accused of sexual abuse by multiple women.
Posts
Gaiman also claims that when he first heard about the allegations of rape being made against him, he confronted Pavlovich, who responded with a message saying:
"Oh my God. Neil! I never said that, but I'm horrified by your message - me too you? Rape? WHAT? This is the first I have heard of this. Wow. I need a moment to digest your message... I have never used the word rape, I'm just so shocked, I honestly don't know what to say."
Gaiman's New Evidence Casts Doubt On the Accusations
Like any allegations of abuse made against high-profile celebrities, the details provided by both parties are often very different. That is once again the case, as despite the serious nature of the complaint against Gaiman, which has seen the author step away from several of his upcoming projects in the wake of court action being filed, he has provided several new pieces of evidence that counter the claims, although they do not explain away other accusations made by other women.
Further in the declaration, Gaiman provides more messages that he exchanged with Pavlovich, such as one he sent to her after discovering that one of Pavlovich's friends had told his wife that she had been subjected to abuse by him. In his message, he wrote, "I thought that we were a good thing and a very consensual thing indeed." In her response, she wrote back, "Yes we did, and it was consensual (and wonderful)! This is beyond out of control and, as I said, I only have fondness and kindness for you. It was consensual - how many times do I have to f*cking tell everyone."
Gaiman's legal team have filed a motion to have the court case dismissed, declaring the accusations to be completely false. In addition, Gaiman has claimed that Pavlovich's filing was made as the result of "outside influencers" pushing her to make the complaints, and that her subsequent media appearances have been an attempt to gain an "unjust financial settlement" from him. For now, the case continues.
Source: Variety
Neil Gaiman
Birthname Neil R. Gaiman Birthdate November 10, 1960 Birthplace Portchester, England, UK Bio
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960 is an English author of short fiction novels comic books graphic novels audio theatre and films His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust American Gods Coraline and The Graveyard Book Gaiman s writing has won numerous awards including Hugo Nebula and Bram Stoker as well as the 2009 Newbery Medal and 2010 Carnegie Medal in Literature He is the first author to win both the Newbery and the Carnegie medals for the same work Description above from the Wikipedia article Neil Gaiman licensed under CC BY SA full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Expand