The author released a statement following an investigation by New York Magazine, asserting: ‘I have never participated in any non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. At any point.’
Neil Gaiman has refuted all claims made against him following accusations of sexual misconduct from several women in a New York Magazine article, stating in an extensive message: “I have never participated in non-consensual sexual actions with anyone. Ever.”
In July, Tortoise Media released a podcast investigation detailing accusations of sexual assault made by two women against Gaiman. One woman claimed that Gaiman had engaged in sexual acts with her without her consent when she was 22 years old and serving as a nanny for the author’s family in New Zealand. At that time, Gaiman categorically denied any misconduct, stating that all his sexual interactions were consensual.
Following the release of the podcast, a woman who had been Gaiman’s caregiver in upstate New York claimed that he coerced her into having sexual relations with him in exchange for permitting her to reside on his property, subsequently requiring her to sign a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for a payment of $275,000. Gaiman stated at that time that their relationship was completely consensual.
This week, New York Magazine disclosed that additional women have come forward with allegations against Gaiman, citing instances of sexual assault, misconduct, and coercion. The magazine spoke to eight women, six of whom are on the record, among them four who took part in the Tortoise podcast series.
Every woman who spoke on the record to New York Magazine indicated that they had engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with the author at various times, but they asserted that he favored rough sex and BDSM practices that they had not always agreed to in advance. The two women who had been his employees reported feeling pressured within the relationship while working for Gaiman and residing on his property.
In a comprehensive statement released on his website on Tuesday, Gaiman expressed that he had chosen not to publicly address the allegations “out of respect for those sharing their experiences and a wish to avoid amplifying much of the misinformation,” but he continued: “I’ve now come to a place where I believe it’s important to speak out.”
Although he admitted in the New York Magazine article that “there are times I partially recognize and times I don’t,” he refuted the allegations of sexual assault, stating: “I’m not without flaws, but I have never participated in any non-consensual sexual acts with anyone. At any time.”
Although he continued to think that all his interactions with the women were “completely consensual sexual relationships” according to their exchanges with him at that time, he mentioned that he had been reflecting for months on his behavior in those relationships.
“I was open to physical intimacy but closed off emotionally, primarily focused on myself and not as considerate as I ought to have been,” he expressed.
“As I think back on my history and reevaluate all that truly occurred versus the claims being made, I do not believe there was any misconduct. To reiterate, I have never participated in any sexual activity without consent from anyone.”
He stated that some of the “terrible” accusations “absolutely never occurred” and that others “have been so exaggerated from what happened that they have no connection to the truth.”
“I am ready to own up to any mistakes I may have made. However, I refuse to abandon the truth, and I cannot accept being characterized as someone I am not, nor will I concede to actions I did not commit.”
Gaiman’s representatives had earlier informed Tortoise that “while sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism may not appeal to all, BDSM is legal among consenting adults.”
In January 2023, New Zealand police received a complaint alleging that Gaiman had committed sexual assault, but the inquiry was ultimately closed.
Following the emergence of the allegations, three adaptations of Gaiman’s works have either been canceled or had their production stalled. This includes Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives, the conclusion of the Amazon series Good Omens, and a Disney project based on The Graveyard Book that was in the works. Although the streaming platforms have not officially stated that these choices were influenced by the allegations, Deadline has reported that Gaiman has reduced his involvement in Good Omens as a result of the accusations.
