Neil Gaiman and Sexual Abuse

This article documents a currently unfolding situation within the fannish realm. Content may change quickly, and the page structure itself may undergo major revision. New details are very welcome.

Neil Gaiman and Sexual Abuse Topics covered in this article Neil Gaiman Amanda Palmer #MeToo and fandom Misogyny in Fandom Scientology and fandom See also Marion Zimmer Bradley Walter Breen and Breendoggle Samuel R. Delany Johnny Depp David Eddings Ed Kramer Dave Sim Forrest J Ackerman Joss Whedon Five Geek Social Fallacies

Timeline overview

• 1980s incidents
• more incidents
• 2024 July
  • Gaiman disappears from social media
  • podcast news
• 2024 August
  • speculation
  • fandom doubts, conspiracy theories
  • more accounts come to forward
  • companies begin dropping and truncating Gaiman projects
• 2025 January
  • Vulture, New York Magazine articles

Pre-2024 rumors, whispers, suspicions, allegations, and discussions related to sexual misconduct

• https://fandompulse.substack.com/p/neil-gaiman-accused-of-sexual-misconduct
  • https://twitter.com/gothgreenwitch/status/1814996380663845051

Debates

• Snow, Glass, Apples
  • Fiction vs Reality debate
• http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/12/why-defend-freedom-of-icky-speech.html

• https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/08/30/neil-gaiman-dave-sim-erika-moen-and-a-lightbulb/

July 2024

Brief overview of accounts of abuse

• https://muccamukk.dreamwidth.org/1678972.html?view=flat&page=99#comments

Evolution of opinions

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Neil_Gaiman#Sexual_assault_allegations

Discussions about fandom culture and abuse

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T31HKuabyMA
• https://www.tumblr.com/hussyknee/772751532939771904

• fandom hive mind / fandom echo chambers
• parasocial relationships
• power dynamics and pedestals in fandom spaces

• Can fan communities learn anything here?
• Previous incidents? Were there warning signs?
• Can fan communities prevent this stuff in their spaces?
• How should fan communities respond to this kind of thing?

Debates about continued engagement with Gaiman-authored media

• Boycott
• Fandom Exodus

Discussions about saving the future of adaptations of Gaiman-related properties

• Good Omens
• Dead Boy Detectives
• The Sandman

Further reading

• - "S4 Ep2 - Claire 'I Ignored It and I Believed Him Because He's the Storyteller [Neil Gaiman]'". Am I Broken: Survivor Stories. Apple Spotify
• - Master: the Allegations Against Neil Gaiman https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/neil-gaiman-denies-sexual-assault-allegations-two-women-1235053131/