The Sandman author Neil Gaiman’s former wife, Amanda Palmer, has made a statement to NME regarding the allegations made against the writer in a report by New York Magazine. Gaiman has denied the claims in a statement on his website.
Replying to NME’s request for comment, a representative for Palmer said: “While Ms. Palmer is profoundly disturbed by the allegations that Mr. Gaiman has abused several women, at this time her primary concern is, and must remain, the well-being of her son and therefore, to guard his privacy, she has no comment on these allegations.”
Taking to Instagram soon after, Palmer added: “As there are ongoing custody and divorce proceedings, I am not able to offer public comment. Please understand that I am first and foremost a parent. I ask for privacy at this time.”
Acclaimed singer-songwriter and performance artist Palmer, formerly of The Dresden Dolls, first met Gaiman in 2008. They married in 2011 before announcing their divorce in 2022. They have one son together.
Representatives for Neil Gaiman did not respond to NME’s request for comment, although he published a post on January 14 via his website denying the accusations. He wrote: “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever”. He later added: “Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality”.
Titled There Is No Safe Word, the piece includes comments from multiple women who accuse the writer of inappropriate and abusive behaviour. It also questions his former wife Amanda Palmer about her knowledge of his alleged actions.
Opening with comments from Scarlett Pavlovich – a 22-year-old drama student who had become friends with Palmer and ran errands for her – the report recalls a weekend in 2022 when Pavlovich was allegedly asked to travel to Gaiman’s house to babysit for his and Palmer’s children. During that period, Pavlovich alleges being sexually assaulted by Gaiman in an outside bathtub.
Elsewhere, one unnamed contributor who says they are a former friend of Gaiman, goes on to discuss the response the author receives from his fans and contemporaries, as well as alleging that those who go to see him at conventions are an “inherently vulnerable community”.
Another unnamed contributor shared a similar outlook, recalling a time when they allegedly walked through a crowd of fans. “They wanted to be entwined with him in ways I was not prepared to defend him against,” they shared.
As per the allegations put forward in the New York Magazine report, Gaiman insisted on being called “Master” during sexual encounters. These claims were made by both Pavlovich and a woman using the pseudonym Brenda, who alleged that he demanded to be referred to by the name as a means of sexual gratification.
Allegations of sexual assault by Gaiman first emerged in 2024, when the podcast Master was shared by Tortoise Media.
During the series, five women including Pavlovich accused the writer of physical sexual assault and unwanted sexual advances. Gaiman has yet to publicly speak on the allegations, however, he did contact Tortoise Media to “strongly deny” all claims against him, insisting there were no instances of non-consensual sex.
Following the allegations first being published last year, Dead Boy Detectives, the Netflix series based on Gaiman’s work, was confirmed to not be returning for a second season. Production was suspended on season three of Good Omens following the news, with the author offering to step back from the show.
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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