A student in Scotland is one of eight women to raise “concerning” sexual assault allegations against best-selling author Neil Gaiman. The women accused the writer – whose books Good Omens, American Gods and The Sandman have been adapted for TV – of sexual misconduct on Monday. Gaiman has denied the allegations.
One woman, who began studying at St Andrews University last year, claims an alleged attack took place while she babysat Gaiman’s five-year-old child. She claimed the incident took place in the same room as the writer’s son in 2022.
Gaiman was awarded an honorary degree at St Andrews University in 2016, and one accuser has since asked the university to strip the writer of his award due to the nature of her claims. Although it remains in place. St Andrews confirmed it is providing counselling to the student following the allegations.
St Andrews University
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The institution said and is monitoring the case “with concern and close interest”. A spokesperson for the university told STV News: “We applaud the courage of all survivors of sexual abuse, and especially those who have felt able to speak out about it.
“Our priority is the welfare of our student, to whom we are providing support and counselling. We will continue to monitor this case with concern and close interest.”
Posting on his blog on Tuesday, Gaiman refuted the claims. The author said: “I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”
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The claims of the eight women were published by The New York Magazine earlier this week. The article claims all of the accusers had been willing to engage with Gaiman’s requests to some extent by calling him “master”.
But the women allege that consent and specific BDSM activities, which they say took place, had not been discussed and agreed.
Gaiman said: “Some 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. I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made.
“I’m not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can’t accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn’t do.”
A police report accusing Gaiman of sexual assault was made in January 2023, but the investigation was eventually dropped.
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