More Sexual Assault Allegations Have Been Leveled Against Author Neil Gaiman

Two more women have come forward with allegations against author Neil Gaiman, extending the timeline of alleged misconduct across five decades, according to a new podcast from Tortoise Media.

Caroline Wallner, who lived on Gaiman’s property in Woodstock, New York from 2014 to 2021, alleges that Gaiman pressured her into sexual acts in exchange for allowing her and her daughters to continue living there after her marriage ended. Wallner claims she felt coerced due to her vulnerable housing and financial situation. She states that Gaiman would threaten to have her vacate the property if she resisted his advances.

Wallner alleges that Gaiman engaged in unwanted sexual behavior, including initiating oral sex and sending explicit photos and videos after he left the property. She says she eventually received a $275,000 settlement and signed a non-disclosure agreement. It’s unclear what Gaiman’s wife at the time, Amanda Palmer, knew about the situation.

Meanwhile, Julia Hobsbawm, a book publicist, alleges that in 1986, when she was 22 and Gaiman was 25, he made an “aggressive, unwanted pass” at her in her London flat. She claims he forcefully kissed her and pushed her onto a sofa before she was able to get away.

Gaiman has denied wrongdoing in both cases. His representatives state that his relationship with Wallner was consensual and initiated by her. As for Hobsbawm’s allegation, Gaiman’s position is that he misread the situation and stopped when he realized she wasn’t receptive.

These new allegations follow accusations from two other women that surfaced earlier this month, which Gaiman has also denied. One woman alleged that Gaiman sexually assaulted her in 2022 during her time as a nanny, while another claimed inappropriate behavior during a relationship that began when she was 20 and Gaiman was in his mid-40s. Both complained of rough, degrading sex that they claim was not always consensual.

Gaiman, who used to be active on social media, hasn’t posted since a casting announcement for season two of Netflix’s Sandman before the allegations surfaced.

Source: TortoiseMedia