On the same day that Netflix’s Sandman Season 2 goes into production, the prolific writer is accused of sexual assault by two women: a former nanny, and a fan.
New faces are entering The Dreaming. Meet The Sandman's Orpheus, Wanda, Nuala, Cluarcan, Loki, Thor, Odin, Puck and Barnabas.
— The Sandman (@Netflix_Sandman) July 2, 2024
Learn more about these new characters on https://t.co/62VAd9Xpz6: https://t.co/c7wKKYJ2Ed pic.twitter.com/i54xBLTRfk
The accusations against the 63-year-old Neil Gaiman are from a 23-year-old, and a woman when she was 20 years old.
“Today we release our latest investigation,” states Tortoise, a British media news site, on X in a series of tweets. “Author Neil Gaiman has been accused of sexual assault by two former partners in the first claims of misconduct against him, and is the subject of a police complaint in New Zealand.”
Today we release our latest investigation.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) July 3, 2024
Author Neil Gaiman has been accused of sexual assault by two former partners in the first claims of misconduct against him, and is the subject of a police complaint in New Zealand.
Listen: https://t.co/emjtiynCnS
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The account continues, “Gaiman’s account strongly denies any allegations of non-consensual sex with the women, and says New Zealand Police did not take up his offer of assistance.”
Gaiman’s account strongly denies any allegations of non-consensual sex with the women, and says New Zealand Police did not take up his offer of assistance.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) July 3, 2024
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“New Zealand Police said their attempts to speak to ‘key people’ are ‘ongoing,’ adding the ‘location of all parties’ is a consideration. Neil Gaiman left New Zealand at the end of February 2022,” says Tortoise.
New Zealand Police said their attempts to speak to "key people" are "ongoing", adding the "location of all parties” is a consideration.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) July 3, 2024
Neil Gaiman left New Zealand at the end of February 2022.
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Another tweet adds, “The allegations span two decades and two continents, and include rough and non-consensual penetrative sex.”
The allegations span two decades and two continents, and include rough and non-consensual penetrative sex.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) July 3, 2024
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“The young women first came into contact with Neil Gaiman – the bestselling author of The Sandman, Good Omens, and American Gods – as a nanny to his child and as a fan of his writing,” says another tweet.
The young women first came into contact with Neil Gaiman – the bestselling author of The Sandman, Good Omens, and American Gods – as a nanny to his child and as a fan of his writing.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) July 3, 2024
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“The women’s allegations are reported in our four-part podcast. The series raises questions about whether Neil Gaiman had reasonable belief in consent for sex with these women, given his celebrity and their vulnerability and age,” states Tortoise.
The women’s allegations are reported in our four-part podcast.
— Tortoise (@tortoise) July 3, 2024
The series raises questions about whether Neil Gaiman had reasonable belief in consent for sex with these women, given his celebrity and their vulnerability and age.
Listen: https://t.co/emjtiynCnS pic.twitter.com/IB3EMUYIVk
The details include:
Scarlett, 23, alleges that Gaiman sexually assaulted her within hours of their first meeting in February 2022 in a bath at his New Zealand residence, where she worked as a nanny to his child. Tortoise understands that Gaiman’s account is that they only “cuddled” and “made out” in the bath and that he had established consent for this. His position is that, over the three-week sexual relationship that followed, they only ever engaged in consensual digital penetration.
Scarlett alleges that within this otherwise consensual relationship Gaiman engaged in rough and degrading penetrative sexual acts with her. Tortoise has seen contemporaneous messages, notes, and spoken to friends who Scarlett talked to at the time, which supports her allegations.
The second woman, K, was 18 when she met Gaiman at a book signing in Sarasota, Florida in 2003. She began a romantic relationship with him when she turned 20, and Gaiman was in his mid-40s, but alleges that she submitted to rough and painful sex that “she neither wanted nor enjoyed.” In one incident she alleges Gaiman penetrated her despite her asking him not to as she was suffering from a painful infection. Gaiman’s position is that he denies any unlawful behaviour with K and is disturbed by her allegations.
Tortoise understands that he believes K’s allegations are motivated by her regret over their relationship and that Scarlett was suffering from a condition associated with false memories at the time of her relationship with him, a claim which is not supported by her medical records and medical history.
Via CBM