Neil Gaiman’s former nanny sues him and his wife for ‘repeated sexual assault’

Scarlett Pavlovich has filed lawsuits against Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer, alleging repeated sexual assaults by Gaiman. Pavlovich, who was homeless when she met the couple, claims that Palmer was aware of Gaiman's history of abuse and seeks $7 million in damages.

Written By Arshdeep Kaur
Updated4 Feb 2025, 08:10 AM IST
FILE - Neil Gaiman
FILE - Neil Gaiman (AP)

Neil Gaiman, the best-selling British author, has been sued by his former nanny, a woman from New Zealand, accusing him of repeatedly sexually assaulting her. She has also named his wife, Amanda Palmer, in the three civil lawsuits she filed against Neil Gaiman.

Scarlett Pavlovich, who worked as the couple's babysitter and nanny, filed the lawsuits in federal court in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New York on Monday.

Pavlovich identified herself in an interview with New York Magazine, which published an article in January detailing allegations of assault, abuse and coercion levelled by eight women.

Also Read | JK Rowling compares Neil Gaiman to Harvey Weinstein’s MeToo row

What does the lawsuit against Neil Gaiman and his wife, Amanda Palmer, say?

In the lawsuits, Pavlovich has alleged that she was homeless and living on a beach when she met Amanda Palmer in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2020.

Scarlett Pavlovich was 22 years old at the time.

According to the lawsuits, Palmer invited Pavlovich to the couple's home on Waiheke Island, after which the 22-year-old began running errands for them: babysitting their son and helping with chores, eventually becoming the couple's nanny.

Gaiman first sexually assaulted her the night they met in February 2022, Pavlovich alleged.

The assaults continued, but Scarlett Pavlovich kept working for the couple because she was broke and homeless, and Gaiman had told her he would help her writing career, according to the lawsuits.

Also Read | Disturbing details emerge in Neil Gaiman’s sexual assault allegations

Pavlovich alleged that when she told Amanda Palmer about the assaults, Palmer told her that more than a dozen women had told her in the past that Neil Gaiman had sexually abused them.

The assaults didn't stop until Pavlovich told Palmer she was going to kill herself, the lawsuits said, adding that the nanny left the family and became homeless again. Although the documents say Gaiman eventually paid her for her work caring for the couple's child and helped cover her rent for a few months.

Amanda Palmer knew of Neil Gaiman's sexual desires and presented Scarlett Pavalovich to him, knowing he would assault her, according to the lawsuits.

Scarlett Pavlovich has alleged Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer violated federal human trafficking prohibitions and seeks at least $7 million in damages.

Also Read | ‘It was selfish of me’: Neil Gaiman responds to sexual abuse allegations

‘I’m far from a perfect person, but’

After the New York Magazine article was published, Gaiman released a statement in January denying he had ever engaged in non-consensual sex. Four women's allegations were previously broadcast in July in a Tortoise Media podcast.

“I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,” Gaiman posted on the social media platform Tumblr.

(With news agency Associated Press' inputs)

 

 

 

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Business NewsNewsNeil Gaiman’s former nanny sues him and his wife for ‘repeated sexual assault’
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First Published:4 Feb 2025, 07:29 AM IST

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