International Desk, Jan 15 (EFE).- Acclaimed writer and screenwriter Neil Gaiman has vehemently denied allegations of sexual assault made by multiple women over the past year, expressing his denial with “horror and dismay.”
Eight of the accs were named in a recent New York Magazine article, adding to claims first made public in 2024 through the podcast ‘The Tortoise.’ In total, 12 women have accused Gaiman of inappropriate behavior.
“I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,” Gaiman stated in a post on his website, seeking to address the allegations directly.
Gaiman, one of the most renowned fantasy authors of his generation, is best known for his novels “Good Omens” and “American Gods,” as well as the comic series “The Sandman.”
The accusations involve s of non-consensual rough sex and sadomasochistic practices.
Several of the women worked for Gaiman or were fans, with at least two reporting the incidents to the police. Some of the alleged victims reached financial settlements with the author.
In his statement, titled “Breaking the Silence,” Gaiman expressed his dismay at the stories being circulated.
“As I read through this latest collection of s, there are moments I half-recognize and moments I don’t, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen,” he said.
Gaiman also reflected on past relationships, noting that he has reviewed his correspondence with the women involved.
“These messages read now as they did when I received them – of two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again. At the time I was in those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides.”
While he acknowledged that he “was obviously careless with people’s hearts and feelings, and that’s something that I really, deeply regret.”
He itted it was “selfish” of him as “I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other people’s.”
“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.”
He said he was prepared to take responsibility for “any missteps I made.”
“I’m not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can’t accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not it to doing things I didn’t do.”
Since the allegations surfaced, Gaiman’s career has taken a significant hit. Nearly all of his audiovisual projects have been canceled.
Amazon Prime confirmed that the third season of “Good Omens” will end with a 90-minute episode, while Disney halted production on its adaptation of “The Graveyard Book.”
Additionally, Netflix canceled “Dead Boy Detectives,” though it remains unclear if these decisions were directly tied to the allegations. EFE
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