Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault allegations
Neil Gaiman commented on one New York Magazine cover story in which several women accused the author of ‘Sandman’ and ‘Coraline’ of sexual assault, to write on his personal blog: “I have not engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”
In the full statement, posted Tuesday morning, the author expressed regret over the way he handled personal relationships, writing that “I was emotionally unavailable while sexually available, self-focused and not as attentive as I could or should have been.” However, he underlined that he denies any accusations of sexual assault: “I am not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I cannot accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn’t do that.”
Back in July, Tortoise Media broke the news that Gaiman had been accused of sexual assault by two women and released a six-part podcast, “Master,” which addressed the allegations from five women. However, the NY Mag article cemented the story as the first major news organization to confirm the full extent of the allegations against Gaiman.
In the NY Mag piece, titled “There Is No Safe Word,” reporter Lila Shapiro spoke with eight women who had similar experiences with Gaiman, four of whom also participated in Tortoise’s podcast. Accusers who spoke to NY Mag included a babysitter for Gaiman and his ex-wife Amanda Palmer’s child, a caretaker for Gaiman’s property in Woodstock, NY, a fan who first met the author when she was 18 and a woman who claimed he tried to sexually assault her on his tour bus. Many of the women claimed that Gaiman had a preference for rough sex and BDSM activities that were not consented to in advance.
Gaiman has strongly denied all allegations against him since the Tortoise podcast came out, claiming that all relationships were consensual; this new blog post marks his most comprehensive statement on the allegations to date.
Since Tortoise’s bomb report in July, several of Gaiman’s film and TV projects have been affected. Season 3 of Prime Video’s “Good Omens” now ends with one 90-minute episode, with Gaiman not part of the production. Disney has halted production on the film adaptation of “The Graveyard Book” and Netflix has canceled “Dead Boy Detectives,” although it is unclear whether this was related to the allegations. But season 2 of “The Sandman” is still expected to arrive on Netflix this year, alongside the adaptation of Prime Video’s series “Anansi Boys.”
Read Gaiman’s full statement below.
Over the past few months, I have watched with horror and dismay the stories circulating about me on the Internet. I have remained silent until now, both out of respect for the people who shared their stories and a desire not to draw more attention to a lot of misinformation. I’ve always tried to be a private person, and increasingly felt that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters. I’ve reached the point now where I feel I should say something.
As I read through this latest collection of stories, there are moments I half recognize and moments I don’t, descriptions of things that happened next to things that emphatically didn’t happen. I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.
I went back to read the messages I exchanged with the women in the neighborhood and following the occasions that were subsequently reported as abusive. These messages now read as they did when I received them: from two people who enjoy fully consensual sexual relationships and want to see each other again. During the time I had those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides.
And when I look through it years later, I also realize that I could and should have done so much better. I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, focused on myself, and not as attentive as I could or should have been. I was clearly careless with people’s hearts and feelings, and that’s something I really, really regret. It was selfish of me. I was completely absorbed in my own story and ignored that of others.
For several months now I have taken a long, hard look at who I have been and how I have made people feel.
Like most of us, I’m learning, and I’m trying to put in the work necessary, and I know that doesn’t happen overnight. I hope that with the help of good people I will continue to grow. I understand that not everyone will believe me or even care about what I say, but I will do the work anyway, for myself, my family, and the people I love. I will do my utmost to earn their trust, as well as the trust of my readers.
At the same time, as I reflect on my past – and as I re-examine everything that actually happened, contrary to what has been alleged – I do not accept that any abuse took place. I repeat: I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone.
Some of the terrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others are so distorted from what actually happened that they no longer bear any relation to reality. I am willing to take responsibility for any mistakes I have made. I am not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I cannot accept being described as someone I am not, and I cannot and will not admit that I have done things that I have not done.
