Best-selling author Neil Gaiman has refuted allegations of sexual misconduct, asserting that he has “never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”

The allegations, made by eight women against the 64-year-old author, include claims of sexual assault involving a woman in a bath. These accusations were published in New York Magazine on Monday, with five of the women's accounts initially reported on a Tortoise Media podcast titled Master last year. In a blog post released on Tuesday, the British-born author of The Sandman expressed his shock and dismay upon reading the allegations.

He stated: “I have remained silent until now, both out of respect for those sharing their experiences and a desire to avoid amplifying a great deal of misinformation.

“I have always preferred to maintain my privacy and increasingly felt that social media was not the appropriate platform for discussing significant personal issues. However, I have now concluded that I must speak out.

“As I reviewed this latest set of accounts, I encountered instances that I partially recognize alongside those that categorically did not occur.”

Gaiman finally responds to sexual misconduct allegations

I acknowledge my imperfections, yet I have never participated in any non-consensual sexual activities with anyone at any point in time. Gaiman mentioned that upon reviewing text messages from the period in question, he perceived them as indicative of two individuals engaged in fully consensual sexual relationships.

As he examined these messages, he recognized that he "could have and should have done much better," admitting that he was "not as considerate as I could or should have been."

He elaborated, stating, "I was negligent regarding the emotions and feelings of others, and this is something I profoundly regret. My actions were selfish. I became engrossed in my narrative and overlooked the experiences of those around me. I have spent several months reflecting deeply on my past behaviour and the impact it has had on others.

"Like many, I am in the process of learning and striving to undertake the necessary work, understanding that this is not a swift journey." The author expressed awareness that "not everyone will accept my perspective" and committed to "doing my utmost to earn their trust, as well as that of my readers." He asserted that some allegations "simply did not occur," while others had been "misrepresented" to "bear no resemblance to reality," but he affirmed his willingness to "accept responsibility for any errors I may have made."

Gaiman's film and TV projects impacted by sexual assault claims

In a report by New York Magazine, one woman alleged that while babysitting Neil Gaiman’s five-year-old child, the author invited her to take a bath in his garden. She claimed that he subsequently joined her in the bath without clothing and requested that she sit on his lap, asserting that he then sexually assaulted her. The article states that all the accusers had, to some degree, engaged with Gaiman’s requests by referring to him as “master.” However, the women contend that consent and the specific BDSM activities they allege occurred were not discussed or agreed upon before their execution.

Representatives for Gaiman previously informed Tortoise Media that while “sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism may not be to everyone’s taste, BDSM is lawful among consenting adults.”

A police report alleging sexual assault against Gaiman was filed in January 2023, but the investigation was ultimately closed without further action.

Gaiman is renowned for his works such as Coraline, American Gods, and The Sandman, all of which have been adapted for film and television. Following the emergence of these allegations, several adaptations of Gaiman’s stories, including the third season of Good Omens—co-written with Terry Pratchett—and a film adaptation of The Graveyard Book, have reportedly been impacted.

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