Neil Gaiman has called a former nanny’s rape allegations against him a “sham,” claiming WhatsApp messages prove his innocence.
In February, a lawsuit was filed against Gaiman, writer of Good Omens and The Sandman, and his ex-wife Amanda Palmer that alleged that Gaimain had repeatedly raped and assaulted Scarlett Pavlovich while she was working for his family in New Zealand in 2022.
Pavlovich additionally claims she told Palmer that she was assaulted, adding that Palmer was not shocked and allegedly knew of past incidents of sexual misconduct by Gaiman.
Pavlovich’s initial suit includes claims of sexual assault, battery and human trafficking.
Now, Gaiman has filed to dismiss the suit, saying, “None of Pavlovich’s claims are true. She is a fantasist who has fabricated a tale of abuse against me and Ms. Palmer.”
Gaiman points to WhatsApp messages between him and Pavlovich that he says show the relationship was “consensual and Pavlovich was an enthusiastic participant who initiated many of our sexual encounters.”
The text screenshots include a message Gaiman purportedly received saying: “I am consumed by thoughts of you, the things you will do to me. I’m so hungry. What a terrible creature you’ve turned me into.”
His lawyers also explain that New Zealand police “thoroughly investigated” Ms Pavlovich’s claims but no charges were brought and police closed the investigation in April 2024.
Pavlovich first spoke out about her alleged experience in a Tortoise Media podcast last year, later speaking to New York magazine in January as one of eight women accusing Gaiman of assault, abuse and coercion. She said Gaiman and Palmer violated laws on federal human trafficking, with complaints of assault, battery and inflicting emotional distress against Gaiman and negligence against Palmer.
At the time, Pavlovich described being sexually assaulted in February 2022, when she was 22, by Gaiman in New Zealand in a backyard bathtub. She also alleged Gaiman assaulted her under the blankets on a hotel room bed while his son played with an iPad in the same room. Gaiman’s reps denied this claim at the time, calling them “false, not to mention, deplorable,” to the magazine.
Palmer took to Instagram days after the suit was filed and said that she “will not respond to the specific allegations being made against me except to say that I deny the allegations and will respond in due course. My heart goes out to all survivors.”
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