Neil Gaiman, the acclaimed 64-year-old fantasy graphic novel and science fiction writer, faces serious allegations of sexual misconduct by eight women. These accusations surfaced in a New York Magazine cover story released on Monday. The women allege that Gaiman engaged in non-consensual sexual activities with them, even as some referred to him as "master" and continued to communicate with him. Gaiman has firmly denied these allegations, asserting his innocence.
The claims against Gaiman include incidents of sexual assault, with one woman alleging he offered her a bath in his garden before assaulting her. Gaiman's representatives have previously communicated to Tortoise Media that he had not been accused of any wrongdoing. Furthermore, a police report accusing Gaiman of sexual assault was filed in January 2023; however, the investigation was ultimately dropped.
The impact of these allegations on Gaiman's professional projects has been significant. Several film and television productions involving Gaiman have faced disruptions. Notably, Netflix has cancelled the series adaptation of "Dead Boy Detectives," though it remains unclear if this decision was directly related to the allegations. Disney has also paused the production of its film adaptation of "The Graveyard Book." Despite these setbacks, season two of "The Sandman" is still slated for release this year on Netflix, with Gaiman contributing to the production.
Gaiman's involvement in the third season of Prime Video's "Good Omens" has been curtailed, resulting in the series concluding with a single 90-minute episode. However, a musical adaptation of Gaiman's "Coraline" is scheduled to be hosted by Leeds Playhouse in April. Gaiman's body of work, which includes popular titles such as "Good Omens," "American Gods," and "The Sandman," has seen numerous adaptations for television and film.
In response to the allegations, Neil Gaiman stated:
"I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever." – Neil Gaiman
His representative further elaborated on the nature of BDSM practices:
"Sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism may not be to everyone's taste, but between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful." – Neil Gaiman's representative
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