Author Neil Gaiman is escalating his legal response to a wave of sexual misconduct allegations. Weeks after several women came forward, Gaiman is now suing one of his accusers for allegedly violating a nondisclosure agreement.
Accuser named in lawsuit
In February, Scarlett Pavlovich filed a lawsuit accusing Gaiman and his ex-wife, Amanda Palmer, of rape and human trafficking. However, the lawsuit Gaiman filed involves a different woman named Caroline Wallner, according to Vulture.
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Wallner was featured in a January article by the same outlet that detailed multiple allegations against Gaiman. In it, she claimed she initially acted as a confidant to Palmer during the couple’s marital struggles. Wallner later worked as a caretaker in their home, and says Gaiman coerced her into sexual activity.
One of the alleged incidents involved Gaiman placing her hand on his genitals while his son was in the same bed.
Alleged payouts for silence
Both Pavlovich and Wallner claim Gaiman offered them financial payouts in exchange for signing nondisclosure agreements. Pavlovich reportedly received a five-figure settlement. Wallner says she negotiated $275,000 to remain silent.
Now, Gaiman says Wallner broke that agreement by speaking to the media. Gaiman’s lawsuit seeks a full repayment of the $275,000 settlement, attorney’s fees, and an additional $50,000 for each public interview she has conducted.
Gaiman’s projects impacted
The fallout from the allegations has affected several of Gaiman’s entertainment projects. Prime Video reduced the third and final season of “Good Omens” to a single episode, with Gaiman stepping back from production. Netflix canceled “Dead Boy Detectives,” and Disney paused development of “The Graveyard Book.” It is unclear whether these decisions are directly connected to the Gaiman lawsuit or allegations against him.
On Amazon, many of Gaiman’s titles are now heavily discounted, with several audiobooks available for free with an Audible trial.
Despite the backlash, Netflix still plans to release the final season of “The Sandman” in July. The trailer, however, does not mention Gaiman by name.
Denial and legal response
Gaiman has denied all allegations, stating that every encounter was consensual. Wallner’s attorney, Vincent White, told Vulture he was surprised Gaiman moved forward with a lawsuit.
When attempting to silence someone claiming really “heinous acts,” White said, “everyone thinks, ‘Oh, the allegation must be true.’ I would think he may have come to the conclusion he has nothing left to lose.”
