Musician Amanda Palmer has broken her silence following allegations of sexual assault against her husband, Neil Gaiman.
The 64-year-old Sandman author has received multiple sexual assault accusations, including recently in a lengthy expose published New York Magazine on January 13 titled "There Is No Safe Word."
In that article, eight women accused Gaiman of sexual misconduct including an 18-year-old homeless woman whom the famous couple would ask to babysit their son, and according to her, only paid her occasionally.
Gaiman denied the allegations in a post on his blog the following day, and Palmer issued a statement calling for privacy for the couple's son.
"While Ms. Palmer is profoundly disturbed by the allegations that Mr. Gaiman has abused several women, at this time her primary concern is, and must remain, the well-being of her son and therefore, to guard his privacy, she has no comment on these allegations," a representative for the musician told music publication NME in a statement.
Palmer posted on Instagram soon after writing, "As there are ongoing custody and divorce proceedings, I am not able to offer public comment. Please understand that I am first and foremost a parent. I ask for privacy at this time."
How Long Were Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer Married?
The Good Omens author met Palmer in 2008 and they began a relationship in 2009 before marrying in 2011.
Their relationship soured in 2020 and Gaiman came under fire for breaking COVID-19 protocols by relocating from their home in New Zealand to his holiday home on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Gaiman and Palmer reconciled in 2021 but soon split again and have been locked in acrimonious divorce proceedings ever since. According to the New Yorker article, the legal battle has put Palmer into a difficult financial position, forcing her to move back in with her parents.
What Has Neil Gaiman Been Accused Of?
News of Gaiman's alleged sexual misconduct first came to light in a six-part podcast series called Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman. Released in July, the series detailed allegations from five women against Gaiman.
Some of the women claimed Gaiman demanded they call him "master" and that some alleged assaults happened at Gaiman's home, including in an outdoor bathtub where he entered the water without of the consent of the woman and began to allegedly penetrate her.
One even allegedly occurred in a hotel room with his underage son nearby.
Gaiman stepped down as showrunner of the Prime Video adaptation of Good Omens after the podcast aired.
His representatives denied any wrongdoing at the time, saying that while Gaiman's sexual proclivities "may not be to everyone's taste" that "between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful."
How Has Neil Gaiman Responded to Sexual Assault Allegations?
The writer took to his personal blog on Tuesday to address the accusations.
"I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever," he wrote.
"I was emotionally unavailable while being sexually available, self-focused and not as thoughtful as I could or should have been," Gaiman said of his interactions with the women.
"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," he added later in the blog post.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, free, confidential help is available 24/7 by calling 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visiting online.rainn.org.
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