A New Zealand woman has filed a lawsuit against renowned author Neil Gaiman and his estranged wife Amanda Palmer, accusing Mr. Gaiman of repeatedly raping and assaulting her while she was working as a nanny for the couple.
Scarlett Pavlovich claims that Ms. Palmer played a role in “procuring and presenting” her to Mr. Gaiman, who allegedly subjected her to severe emotional distress, physical injuries, and economic losses. The lawsuit alleges that Mr. Gaiman assaulted and raped Ms. Pavlovich multiple times while she was babysitting their son.
Ms. Pavlovich first met Ms. Palmer in 2020 when she was homeless and living on the beach. After becoming acquaintances, Ms. Pavlovich started running errands for the couple, including babysitting their son. She also disclosed her mental health struggles to Ms. Palmer.
The lawsuit states that Ms. Palmer was aware of Mr. Gaiman’s danger and asked Ms. Pavlovich to babysit for a weekend in February 2022. During this time, Mr. Gaiman assaulted Ms. Pavlovich while she was on duty, despite her objections.
Ms. Pavlovich filed a police report accusing Mr. Gaiman of assault but was told there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue the case. The couple allegedly refused to pay her for her work as a live-in nanny, leaving her an “economic hostage.”
The allegations against Mr. Gaiman have led to several projects being dropped or curtailed, including Prime Video’s “Good Omens” and Disney’s movie production based on one of his novels.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/books/neil-gaiman-lawsuit-sexual-abuse.html