Latest news with #TheDresdenDolls
USA Today
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Neil Gaiman's ex-wife responds to sexual assault lawsuit: 'I deny the allegations'
Neil Gaiman's ex-wife responds to sexual assault lawsuit: 'I deny the allegations' Show Caption Hide Caption Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault, abuse allegations Neil Gaiman has denied allegations of abuse and sexual assault made by multiple women. unbranded - Entertainment Amanda Palmer, ex-wife of Neil Gaiman, is speaking out after she was named in a sexual assault lawsuit filed against the British author. Palmer, a singer-songwriter known for her work in the duo The Dresden Dolls, issued a statement on Instagram Friday after she was accused of helping Gaiman acquire "free sexual services and labor" from their child's former nanny in 2022 and enabling her rape. Palmer and Gaiman share 9-year-old son Anthony. "I thank you all for continuing to respect my recent request for privacy as I navigate this extremely difficult moment," Palmer wrote. "I must protect my young child and his right to privacy." In a federal civil lawsuit filed in Wisconsin on Monday, Scarlett Pavlovich claimed Gaiman "repeatedly raped" her while she worked as a live-in nanny for Palmer and Gaiman in their New Zealand homes. At the time, she was around 24, while Gaiman was 61. She accused Palmer, who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, of "procuring and presenting (Pavlovich) to Gaiman for such abuse." Addressing the lawsuit in Friday's post, Palmer said she won't respond to the "specific allegations being made against me except to say that I deny the allegations and will respond in due course," adding, "My heart goes out to all survivors." Palmer's former spouse has been accused of sexual assault by nearly a dozen women after U.K. media outlet Tortoise published a six-episode podcast series last summer outlining several allegations of abuse. As recently as January, Gaiman has denied participating in any "non-consensual sexual activity." Background: Neil Gaiman sued for allegedly trafficking, 'repeatedly' assaulting former nanny Scarlett Pavlovich claims Amanda Palmer knew about alleged Neil Gaiman abuse In her lawsuit, Pavlovich said she met and became acquaintances with Palmer in Auckland in 2020, and in February 2022, Palmer asked Pavlovich to babysit over a weekend. Gaiman allegedly first raped Pavlovich on Feb. 4, 2022, after sending his child to a friend's house and suggesting she bathe in his garden bathtub. Following Palmer's alleged offer of employment as a live-in nanny, a "desperate" Pavlovich — who needed "secure employment and affordable housing" — accepted the job. Pavlovich claimed that during her employment, Gaiman sexually assaulted her vaginally and anally on multiple occasions, at points causing her to experience "overwhelming" pain and bleeding. She also said Gaiman ordered her to "call him 'master'" while referring to her as a "slave." 'I don't accept there was any abuse': Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault allegations She claimed that during this time, Gaiman and Palmer "intentionally withheld Scarlett's pay" and that it took months to get paid. Pavlovich alleged Gaiman later approached her and paid her invoice for services but also required her to sign "an employment agreement" in exchange for rent money, to which she agreed. The woman claimed Palmer showed negligence as she "knew that Scarlett was an abuse survivor who had suffered mental health challenges in the remote and recent past." Pavlovich said she told Palmer about the alleged abuse, but Gaiman's wife "expressed no surprise" and allegedly said other women had confided in her with similar stories about him. Pavlovich is seeking at least $1 million in damages, claiming the former couple "abandoned" her after the alleged abuse, which left her "alone, penniless, and struggling." If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: (4673) and and en Español
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Neil Gaiman's ex-wife denies trafficking allegations
Amanda Palmer, the ex-wife of British author Neil Gaiman, has denied allegations of negligence and human trafficking made by a woman who worked for the former couple. Earlier this week, the woman filed civil lawsuits in the US alleging the former couple violated laws on federal human trafficking, with complaints of assault, battery and inflicting emotional distress against Gaiman and negligence against Palmer. In a short post on Instagram, Palmer, who lives in the US, said she would not respond to specific allegations against her, but broadly denied them. Gaiman has denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by eight women. The lawsuits claim the woman was befriended by Palmer when she was 22 years old and homeless. She claims she had started working for the couple in New Zealand when the assaults began. According to the lawsuits, she alleges that Gaiman sexually assaulted her and Palmer told her there had been previous complaints from more than a dozen different women. On Instagram, Palmer, who is a member of band The Dresden Dolls, wrote: "I thank you all deeply for continuing to respect my recent request for privacy as I navigate this extremely difficult moment. I must protect my young child and his right to privacy. "With that as my priority, I will not respond to the specific allegations being made against me except to say that I deny the allegations and will respond in due course. My heart goes out to all survivors." On 13 January, Gaiman was reportedly accused of sexual misconduct by eight women, including four who previously spoke out in a New York Magazine article. It led to publisher Dark Horse Comics cancelling upcoming work by Gaiman and a UK stage adaptation of his book Coraline has been pulled. Gaiman, 64, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by eight women saying he has "never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever". Palmer tied the knot with Gaiman in 2011 and they announced the birth of their son in 2015. In a shared statement with Gaiman they revealed they were getting divorced in 2022. "After many years of marriage, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," they said. "While we will no longer be partners in marriage, we will remain in one another's lives as co-parents committed to raising our wonderful son in a loving and compassionate environment. "We deeply appreciate everyone respecting our family's privacy so we can focus on our son as we enter this new chapter in our lives." Woman files civil lawsuit against Neil Gaiman and ex-wife Neil Gaiman's publisher cancels future works Neil Gaiman faces more sexual assault allegations Author Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault allegations
BBC News
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Neil Gaiman's ex-wife Amanda Palmer denies negligence allegations
Amanda Palmer, the ex-wife of British author Neil Gaiman, has denied allegations of negligence and human trafficking made by a woman who worked for the former this week, the woman filed civil lawsuits in the US alleging the former couple violated laws on federal human trafficking, with complaints of assault, battery and inflicting emotional distress against Gaiman and negligence against Palmer. In a short post on Instagram, Palmer, who lives in the US, said she would not respond to specific allegations against her, but broadly denied has denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by eight women. The lawsuits claim the woman was befriended by Palmer when she was 22 years old and homeless. She claims she had started working for the couple in New Zealand when the assaults to the lawsuits, she alleges that Gaiman sexually assaulted her and Palmer told her there had been previous complaints from more than a dozen different Instagram, Palmer, who is a member of band The Dresden Dolls, wrote: "I thank you all deeply for continuing to respect my recent request for privacy as I navigate this extremely difficult moment. I must protect my young child and his right to privacy."With that as my priority, I will not respond to the specific allegations being made against me except to say that I deny the allegations and will respond in due course. My heart goes out to all survivors."On 13 January, Gaiman was reportedly accused of sexual misconduct by eight women, including four who previously spoke out in a New York Magazine led to publisher Dark Horse Comics cancelling upcoming work by Gaiman and a UK stage adaptation of his book Coraline has been 64, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by eight women saying he has "never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever".Palmer tied the knot with Gaiman in 2011 and they announced the birth of their son in a shared statement with Gaiman they revealed they were getting divorced in 2022."After many years of marriage, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," they said. "While we will no longer be partners in marriage, we will remain in one another's lives as co-parents committed to raising our wonderful son in a loving and compassionate environment."We deeply appreciate everyone respecting our family's privacy so we can focus on our son as we enter this new chapter in our lives."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former nanny claims in lawsuit that author Neil Gaiman raped her repeatedly
The former nanny of best-selling fantasy writer Neil Gaiman and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer, claims in a lawsuit that Gaiman raped her repeatedly and demanded that she call him 'master.' Scarlett Pavlovich filed lawsuits in federal court in Massachusetts, New York and Wisconsin on Monday, accusing Gaiman and Palmer of violating federal human trafficking prohibitions. She is seeking over $7 million in damages. Pavlovich and four other women came forward with abuse allegations against Gaiman in July on a podcast titled 'Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman.' Five women, including Pavlovich (who did not use her full name in the podcast), accused him of unwanted sexual contact. Pavlovich later came forward with her full name and detailed the allegations of abuse in a New York Magazine story published last month, which included allegations from a total of eight women. Pavlovich said she was 22 when she met the couple in 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. She said Palmer invited her to her home on Waiheke Island, which is about a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland. She began working for the couple first by running errands, then by babysitting their son and helping with chores, according to the suit. Gaiman, a British writer now living in Wisconsin, has written nearly 50 books, many of which have been adapted for film and TV, including 'The Sandman' and 'Coraline.' Palmer, who lives in upstate New York, made her mark as part of the punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls. The two announced they were getting divorced in 2022. Gaiman previously denied allegations made by accusers in a statement on his website last month. 'I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,' he wrote. He said he regrets being 'obviously careless with people's hearts and feelings,' calling it 'selfish.' But '[s]ome 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 wrote. Before the lawsuit was filed, Palmer posted on Instagram that she could not comment, 'as there are ongoing custody and divorce proceedings.' The couple, who married in 2011, have one child together. Gaiman and Palmer did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Neither has publicly commented on the recent lawsuits. The lawsuit says: 'Gaiman engaged in many nonconsensual sex acts with Scarlett. Those acts were abusive and demeaning. ... Scarlett endured those acts because she would lose her job, housing, and promised future career support if she did not.' Palmer played a role in 'procuring and presenting' Pavlovich to her husband, according to court documents. 'More than a dozen women, including several former employees, had previously come to Palmer about abusive sexual encounters with Gaiman,' the lawsuit says. Pavlovich 'had nowhere to go' and would have been homeless if she left, according to the lawsuit, which describes Pavlovich as the couple's 'economic hostage.' 'Scarlett knew that she had only two choices: she could either submit to Gaiman's coercion and violence or she could try to escape,' the lawsuit says. When Pavlovich met the couple, it says, she was penniless and 'sleeping on the beach.' Pavlovich, who is lesbian, was also grappling with 'substantial mental health difficulties.' Pavlovich had also been raped at age 15 by a middle-age man, the suit says. Palmer was aware of her history, Pavlovich said in the court documents. Pavlovich said she was at Gaiman's house in New Zealand when the first sexual assault happened on Feb. 4, 2022. She said that Gaiman, who was 61 at the time, called her his 'slave' and that the assaults continued until she told Palmer she would kill herself and was hospitalized. 'Some incidents took place in the presence of Gaiman and Palmer's child,' the lawsuit says. After Pavlovich was released from the hospital, the papers say, Gaiman paid her for the babysitting she had done and helped cover her rent for a few months. Pavlovich alleged that when she reported the rapes to the police, she thought Palmer would back up her charges, because she 'had expressed disgust for what Gaiman had done, calling him 'Weinstein' and predicting he would be inevitably 'MeTooed'.' 'Her hope was in vain,' the papers say. 'The police took no action because Palmer refused to talk to them.' Gaiman has experienced some professional fallout since the allegations surfaced last year. Dark Horse Comics said on X last month that it would no longer publish his works. A planned movie adaptation of one of his books was reportedly put on pause. This article was originally published on
NBC News
04-02-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Former nanny claims in lawsuit that author Neil Gaiman raped her repeatedly
The former nanny of best-selling fantasy writer Neil Gaiman and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer, claims in a lawsuit that Gaiman raped her repeatedly and demanded that she call him 'master.' Scarlett Pavlovich filed lawsuits in federal court in Massachusetts, New York and Wisconsin on Monday, accusing Gaiman and Palmer of violating federal human trafficking prohibitions. She is seeking over $7 million in damages. Pavlovich and four other women came forward with abuse allegations against Gaiman in July on a podcast titled 'Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman.' Five women, including Pavlovich (who did not use her full name in the podcast), accused him of unwanted sexual contact. Pavlovich later came forward with her full name and detailed the allegations of abuse in a New York Magazine story published last month, which included allegations from a total of eight women. Pavlovich said she was 22 when met the couple in 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. She said Palmer invited her to her home on Waiheke Island, which is about a 40-minute ferry ride from Auckland. She began working for the couple first by running errands, then by babysitting their son and helping with chores, according to the suit. Gaiman, a British writer now living in Wisconsin, has written nearly 50 books, many of which have been adapted for film and TV, including 'The Sandman' and 'Coraline.' Palmer, who lives in upstate New York, made her mark as part of the punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls. The two announced they were getting divorced in 2022. Gaiman previously denied allegations made by accusers in a statement on his website last month. 'I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,' he wrote. He said he regrets being 'obviously careless with people's hearts and feelings,' calling it 'selfish.' But '[s]ome 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 wrote. Before the lawsuit was filed, Palmer posted on Instagram that she could not comment, 'as there are ongoing custody and divorce proceedings.' The couple, who married in 2011, have one child together. Gaiman and Palmer did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Neither has publicly commented on the recent lawsuits. The lawsuit says: 'Gaiman engaged in many nonconsensual sex acts with Scarlett. Those acts were abusive and demeaning. ... Scarlett endured those acts because she would lose her job, housing, and promised future career support if she did not.' Palmer played a role in 'procuring and presenting' Pavlovich to her husband, according to court documents. 'More than a dozen women, including several former employees, had previously come to Palmer about abusive sexual encounters with Gaiman,' the lawsuit says. Pavlovich 'had nowhere to go' and would have been homeless if she left, according to the lawsuit, which describes Pavlovich as the couple's 'economic hostage.' 'Scarlett knew that she had only two choices: she could either submit to Gaiman's coercion and violence or she could try to escape,' the lawsuit says. When Pavlovich met the couple, it says, she was penniless and 'sleeping on the beach.' Pavlovich, who is lesbian, was also grappling with 'substantial mental health difficulties.' Pavlovich had also been raped at age 15 by a middle-age man, the suit says. Palmer was aware of her history, Pavlovich said in the court documents. Pavlovich said she was at Gaiman's house in New Zealand when the first sexual assault happened on Feb. 4, 2022. She said that Gaiman, who was 61 at the time, called her his 'slave' and that the assaults continued until she told Palmer she would kill herself and was hospitalized. 'Some incidents took place in the presence of Gaiman and Palmer's child,' the lawsuit says. After Pavlovich was released from the hospital, the papers say, Gaiman paid her for the babysitting she had done and helped cover her rent for a few months. Pavlovich alleged that when she reported the rapes to the police, she thought Palmer would back up her charges, because she 'had expressed disgust for what Gaiman had done, calling him 'Weinstein' and predicting he would be inevitably 'MeTooed'.' 'Her hope was in vain,' the papers say. 'The police took no action because Palmer refused to talk to them.' Gaiman has experienced some professional fallout since the allegations surfaced last year. Dark Horse Comics said on X last month that it would no longer publish his works. A planned movie adaptation of one of his books was reportedly put on pause.
