Author behind popular BBC series denies sexual misconduct against 8 women and says he’s ‘never had non-consensual sex’
BEST-SELLING author Neil Gaiman has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct after eight women came forward with accusations.
The 64-year-old responded to the shock claims by saying he has “never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever”.
The popular English writer is known for The Sandman, American Gods and the children’s book Coraline as well as co-writing Good Omens alongside Terry Pratchett in 1990.
The show went on to become a hit BBC and Amazon TV series with Gaiman acting as the writer and executive producer.
But after a bombshell report released in New York Magazine detailed a number of shock claims against the Brit which span back to 1986 production on the third season of the show was axed.
One allegation included a woman who accused Gaiman of raping her in a bathtub outside.
In a blog post on Tuesday, the popular author said he has read the allegations and felt “horror and dismay”.
He wrote: “I’ve stayed quiet until now, both out of respect for the people who were sharing their stories and out of a desire not to draw even more attention to a lot of misinformation.
“I’ve always tried to be a private person, and felt increasingly that social media was the wrong place to talk about important personal matters.
“I’ve now reached the point where I feel that I should say something.
“As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don’t, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen.
“I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”
Gaiman said he had read back text messages from the time of one of the assaults and felt they were “of two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships“.
He added that he “could have and should have done so much better” and realised he hadn’t been as “thoughtful” as he would have liked looking back.
He continued: “I was obviously careless with people’s hearts and feelings, and that’s something that I really, deeply regret.
“It was selfish of me. I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other people’s.
“Like most of us, I’m learning, and I’m trying to do the work needed, and I know that that’s not an overnight process.”
The author said he understood that “not everyone will believe me”.
Gaiman vehemently denies several of the allegations claiming they “simply never happened”.
Others had been “distorted” from reality, he added.
Gaiman did not go into detail into which accusations he was referring to.
The New York Magazine report released on Monday detailed the allegations which ranged from rape to hitting one accuser with a belt.
All eight of the accusers said they had been willing to engage with many of Gaiman’s requests – one of which often included calling him “master”, according to the report.
But the women allege that during some acts they had removed their consent before or during.
Some also said they had not discussed or agreed on the acts and scenarios Gaiman wanted before they happened, claims the report.
Several of these allegations were first revealed on the Tortoise podcast which is hosted by journalist and broadcaster Rachel Johnson.
Gaiman’s representatives had previously told Tortoise Media that “sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism may not be to everyone’s taste, but between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful”.
A police report accusing Gaiman of sexual assault was made in January 2023, but the investigation was eventually dropped.
The Sun has contacted Gaiman’s representatives for comment.