British Author Neil Gaiman Accused of Sexual Assault by Eight Women: Who is He?

Renowned British writer Neil Gaiman, known for creations such as Good Omens, American Gods, and The Sandman, has faced fresh accusations of sexual assault and misconduct. Eight females, including his child’s caregiver, have leveled charges against the 64-year-old for assault, pressure, and mistreatment, according to recent revelations.

The babysitter claimed that in February 2022, Gaiman sexually attacked her in a New Zealand backyard tub. She also asserted that she was attacked in a hotel chamber with Gaiman’s son nearby, with Gaiman directing her to address him as “master” and commending her as a “good little girl.”

Most of the accusers were women in their twenties, with the youngest being 18, while Gaiman was in his forties or older during the purported encounters, as per the report.

Who is Neil Gaiman?

• Neil Gaiman was born on November 10, 1960, in Portchester, Hampshire, England. His family has Polish-Jewish and Ashkenazi roots. He has two younger siblings, one of whom is employed by the Church of Scientology in Los Angeles.
• Gaiman attended Fonthill School, Ardingly College, and Whitgift School. He engaged in journalism in the 1980s, conducting interviews and drafting book assessments for the British Fantasy Society. He was influenced by the works of Mary Shelley, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Allan Poe, Alan Moore, and Gene Wolfe. He also admired Monty Python and was captivated by Metal Hurlant comics during a journey to France at 13 years old. Gaiman cites Roger Zelazny as his primary literary influence.
• Neil Gaiman initiated his writing occupation in 1984 with a brief anecdote. He subsequently composed a biography of the band Duran Duran and co-edited Ghastly Beyond Belief. In 1987, he cooperated with Terry Pratchett on Good Omens. Gaiman mastered comic script authoring and contributed to Miracleman and Watchmen. He co-invented The Sandman, introducing the figure Death, and scripted The Books of Magic and Marvel 1602. He adapted Princess Mononoke and Beowulf for the cinema and scribed the screenplay Neverwhere for BBC. Gaiman’s works, including Stardust and Coraline, were transformed into films, and he garnered Hugo Awards for Doctor Who’s The Doctor’s Wife and the Good Omens miniseries. In 2023, he voiced a character in Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose.
• In 2024, five females accused Neil Gaiman of sexual assault and maltreatment, with interviews showcased on Tortoise Media and The New York Times. Allegations comprised groping at a literary gathering, agonizing, unwelcome intercourse, and requests for sexual services. Gaiman refuted the assertions, including an accusation from writer Julia Hobsbawm. In reaction to these claims, Disney suspended the film adaptation of The Graveyard Book, and production of Good Omens season 3 was postponed. Gaiman withdrew from the project in October.
• Neil Gaiman has received numerous prestigious accolades, such as the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker awards, along with the Newbery and Carnegie medals. He is the inaugural author to secure both the Newbery and Carnegie medals for the same book, The Graveyard Book (2008).