Neil Gaiman Once Again Denies Allegations and Reveals He’s Writing His Biggest Book Since American Gods

Neil Gaiman is back in the headlines, and once again it’s for reasons that have nothing to do with raven gods or dream realms. The The Sandman and Good Omens author has released a lengthy public statement addressing the sexual misconduct allegations that have followed him for nearly two years, firmly denying them while also sharing a surprise update about a new book he’s currently writing.

The statement marks Gaiman’s first public response in almost a year. During that time, he largely vanished from public view as projects connected to his work stalled or fell apart.

That included Amazon stepping away from the final season of Good Omens, shelving the Anansi Boys series, Netflix limiting press around the final season of The Sandman, and Disney shutting down development on The Graveyard Book film adaptation. It’s been a rough stretch for one of modern fantasy’s most recognizable voices.

In his new message, Gaiman shares how he views the situation. He says a “smear campaign” has followed him and claims that “actual evidence was dismissed or ignored” as the allegations spread.

Those accusations trace back to multiple women, most prominently Scarlett Pavlovich, who previously raised her claims in a Tortoise Media podcast and a New York magazine feature in 2024.

Back in March 2025, Gaiman publicly addressed Pavlovich’s allegations, labeling her a “fantasist” and releasing WhatsApp messages he says contradict her claims of sexual abuse. A month earlier, in February 2025, Pavlovich filed a federal lawsuit against Gaiman and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer, alleging sexual assault and trafficking.

In a court declaration, Gaiman acknowledged that he and Pavlovich had bathed together and engaged in consensual sexual activity while in New Zealand, but stated that intercourse never occurred. He strongly denied the more graphic accusations described in the lawsuit.

“None of Pavlovich’s claims are true,” he wrote. “She is a fantasist who has fabricated a tale of abuse against me and Ms. Palmer.”

Gaiman has also pointed to numerous messages between himself and Pavlovich that he says demonstrate the encounters were consensual. He’s denied any non-consensual sexual activity involving Pavlovich or anyone else.

In a January 2025 blog post responding to additional allegations from other women, he said he regretted being “emotionally unavailable” and “careless with people’s hearts and feelings,” but maintained that consent was never violated.

The new statement revisits all of this with frustration and a clear sense of betrayal. Gaiman writes that he expected journalists to thoroughly examine the evidence when the allegations first surfaced, and says he was stunned by how much coverage ignored it entirely.

He singles out one independent journalist, writing under the name TechnoPathology, for what he describes as careful, evidence-driven reporting.

“I’ve had no contact with TechnoPathology,” Gaiman explains, adding that he’s grateful someone finally took the time to look closely at the materials he believes refute the claims.

Then, near the end of the statement, the tone shifts. After more than a year defined by legal battles and professional fallout, Gaiman reveals he’s returned to the thing he loves most. Writing.

“It’s been a strange, turbulent and occasionally nightmarish year and a half, but I took my own advice (when things get tough, make good art) and once I was done with making television I went back to doing something else I love even more: writing.

“I thought it was going to be a fairly short project when I began it, but it’s looking like it’s going to be the biggest thing I’ve done since American Gods. It’s already much longer than The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and it’s barely finished wiping its boots and hanging up its coat. And I spend half of every month being a full-time Dad, and that remains the best bit of my life.”

That’s the first creative update fans have had from Gaiman in quite some time. Gaiman closes his statement by widening the lens, expressing concern about the state of the world while reaffirming his belief in people who supported him through the ordeal.

“It’s a rough time for the world. I look at what’s happening on the home front and internationally, and I worry; and I am still convinced there are more good people out there than the other kind. Thank you again to so many of you for your belief in my innocence and your support for my work. It has meant the world to me.”

Whether this statement shifts public perception or legal outcomes remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Neil Gaiman isn’t done telling stories, even as his own continues to unfold in very public and complicated ways.

Source: Variety