Neil Gaiman, the bestselling fantasy creator behind “The Sandman” comedian books, and novels and reveals “American Gods” and “Good Omens,” has emphatically denied ever partaking in nonconsensual sexual conduct after a number of girls accused him of sexual assault in a New York journal article.

Eight girls accused the 64-year-old British scribe of assault, abuse and coercion in an article revealed Monday. Many of the allegations stemmed from the late ’90s to 2022, when he was dwelling in the USA, Britain and New Zealand. Over the summer time, 5 girls — 4 of whom had been interviewed for the New York article — made accusations towards Gaiman within the Tortoise Media podcast “Grasp: The Allegations Towards Neil Gaiman,” claiming that the creator requested them to name him “grasp” throughout their alleged sexual encounters.

Gaiman has bought greater than 50 million copies of his books worldwide, a number of of which have been tailored for movie and tv. The creator, who has forthcoming tasks with Netflix and Prime Video, is likely one of the first trendy comic-book writers to attract a big feminine readership. The allegations made by his accusers conflict with the self-proclaimed feminist author’s public persona. Most of the allegations towards him contain domineering violence, a function of BDSM that each events should consent to, and 7 out of the eight girls interviewed for the story advised New York author Lila Shapiro that they’d no real interest in BDSM however sooner or later performed alongside.

Gaiman, by means of his representatives, advised the journal that the encounters had been all consensual. Then, in a prolonged assertion posted Tuesday on his web site, the “Good Omens” writer-producer stated he has watched with “horror and dismay” as tales about him circulated on-line over many months. He stated he stayed quiet till now “each out of respect for the individuals who had been sharing their tales and out of a need not to attract much more consideration to loads of misinformation.”

“I’ve at all times tried to be a non-public particular person, and felt more and more that social media was the unsuitable place to speak about essential private issues. I’ve now reached the purpose the place I really feel that I ought to say one thing,” he wrote. “As I learn by means of this newest assortment of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don’t, descriptions of issues that occurred sitting beside issues that emphatically didn’t occur. I’m removed from an ideal particular person, however I’ve by no means engaged in non-consensual sexual exercise with anybody. Ever.”

The “Beowulf” and “Coraline” screenwriter stated he re-read messages he had exchanged with a few of the girls, significantly communication that had been reported as abusive. The messages, he stated, “learn now as they did after I acquired them — of two individuals having fun with totally consensual sexual relationships and eager to see each other once more. On the time I used to be in these relationships, they appeared constructive and glad on either side.”

Gaiman additionally conceded that he “may have and will have completed so significantly better.”

“I used to be emotionally unavailable whereas being sexually obtainable, self-focused and never as considerate as I may or ought to have been. I used to be clearly careless with individuals’s hearts and emotions, and that’s one thing that I actually, deeply remorse. It was egocentric of me. I used to be caught up in my very own story and I ignored different individuals’s,” he wrote.

The creator stated he has spent months taking an extended, exhausting look at himself and the way he has made individuals really feel, noting that he’s studying, “making an attempt to do the work wanted” and rising.

“I perceive that not everybody will consider me and even care what I say however I’ll be doing the work anyway, for myself, my household and the individuals I really like. I can be doing my highest to deserve their belief, in addition to the belief of my readers,” he wrote.

“On the similar time, as I replicate on my previous — and as I re-review the whole lot that really occurred as opposed to what’s being alleged — I don’t settle for there was any abuse. To repeat, I’ve by no means engaged in non-consensual sexual exercise with anybody,” he stated. “A number of the horrible tales now being advised merely by no means occurred, whereas others have been so distorted from what truly occurred that they bear no relationship to actuality. I’m ready to take accountability for any missteps I made. I’m not keen to show my again on the reality, and I can’t settle for being described as somebody I’m not, and can’t and won’t admit to doing issues I didn’t do.”

One of many girls within the New York story, drama pupil Scarlett Pavlovich, stated she met Gaiman by means of his ex-wife, singer Amanda Palmer, when she was 22 and working as their son’s nanny whereas the household lived in New Zealand. She alleged that Gaiman abused her a number of occasions, forcing her to carry out oral and anal intercourse and calling her a “slave.” Pavlovich, who was additionally among the many girls who first detailed her allegations on the “Grasp” podcast, alleged that Gaiman abused her in a tub on his property. She additionally advised New York journal that she filed a police report in January 2023.

In accordance with the Related Press, New Zealand police on Tuesday couldn’t touch upon whether or not Gaiman was, or had been, underneath investigation.

“Usually, Police can’t reply to queries which search to ascertain whether or not particular people are, or have been, underneath Police investigation. Moreover, anybody who makes a grievance to Police has the suitable to privateness,” New Zealand police advised AP.

One other girl, recognized as Caroline, claimed that Gaiman “didn’t have boundaries” and alleged that Gaiman assaulted her in a lodge room whereas his son was current. Kendra Stout stated she met Gaiman at a e-book signing when she was 18 and alleged that the author raped her in 2007. Katherine Kendall, who met Gaiman in 2012 when she was 22, alleged that Gaiman tried to have intercourse along with her on his tour bus and later gave her $60,000 to pay for remedy to “make up for the injury.”

All through the New York article, representatives for Gaiman responded to some particular allegations — clarifying some, outright denying others and calling considered one of Pavlovich’s accounts “false, to not point out, deplorable.”

Representatives for Gaiman didn’t instantly reply Wednesday to The Occasions’ requests for remark.

Gaiman stays locked in a contentious custody battle with Palmer, with whom he as soon as had an open marriage and divorced in 2022.