In his first direct address in nearly a year, author Neil Gaiman has vehemently denied multiple sexual assault allegations, labeling them a “smear campaign” fueled by online outrage.
Neil Gaiman speaks out on sexual assault allegations
Gaiman has broken his prolonged public silence to categorically deny a series of sexual assault allegations. The 65-year-old author of American Gods and The Sandman series posted a lengthy statement on his official Neil Gaiman Facebook author page, calling the accusations “completely and simply untrue” and stating he is a victim of a coordinated smear effort.
The allegations against Gaiman, which include claims of sexual abuse and coercive behaviour, were first detailed in a July 2024 podcast by Tortoise Media, which was later expanded upon in a January 2025 New York Magazine investigation.
In that initial report, Gaiman stated he had “never engaged in nonconsensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.” Nine women have come forward with accusations. These include Scarlett Pavlovich, the former nanny for Gaiman and his ex-wife, musician Amanda Palmer.
In his Facebook post, Gaiman expressed his shock at the spread of the claims. “I have learned first-hand how effective a smear campaign can be,” he wrote. He insisted concrete evidence exists to refute the accounts, stating, “There are emails, text messages and video evidence that flatly contradict them.”
Gaiman accused certain media of prioritizing sensationalism over truth. “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.),” he asserted. He expressed disappointment that journalistic investigations did not, in his view, properly consider the evidence, leading to an “echo chamber” of reporting.
Despite the turmoil, Gaiman stated, “One thing that’s kept me going through all this madness is the conviction that the truth would, eventually, come out.” He also revealed he has nearly finished a new novel, having returned to writing.
