Neil Gaiman and his wife sued by former nanny for human trafficking, sexual abuse and rape

Neil Gaiman and his ex-wife, Amanda Palmer, face a lawsuit filed by a former nanny accusing them of human trafficking. Scarlett Pavlovich also accused Gaiman, 64, of sexual abuse, assault, rape and coercion.

According to the information, Pavlovich's attorneys filed the lawsuit naming Gaiman and Palmer in Wisconsin, where the author has a home. They also simultaneously filed lawsuits in federal courts in Massachusetts and New York that only named Palmer as a defendant "given the uncertainty" of the state of her residence. In that regard, the actions against the singer will continue "only in the district of [Palmer's] choosing," according to the complaint obtained by People.

"In her lawsuit against Gaiman, which also names Palmer, Pavlovich accused him of sexual violence on multiple occasions while working for Gaiman and Palmer in New Zealand," the news outlet explained.

According to the lawsuit, the woman claimed the writer first raped her in February 2022. The incident allegedly occurred after she was asked to babysit Gaiman and Palmer's son in Waiheke. In addition, the complaint describes other instances of sexual violence that allegedly occurred while she was working for them.

In addition, the complaint describes Pavlovich as an economic hostage to the couple. It notes that Gaiman's attitude was intended to "coerce Scarlett into providing sexual services and free child care to him by making her believe that if she did not perform such work and services, she would suffer serious harm or physical restraint."

Similarly, the nanny is seeking damages to be determined at trial. According to the complaint, the damages are reasonably believed to exceed $1 million.

The allegations

Last month, New York Magazine published a report in which several women, including Pavlovich, accused Neil Gaiman, author of "The Sandman" and "Coraline," of sexual assault.

At least eight women spoke with journalist Lila Shapiro to discuss their accusations against the writer. They were part of an article titled: "There Is No Safe Word." The women recounted the episodes they allegedly experienced with Gaiman.

Several of them claimed that the writer forced them to perform practices known as bondage, domination, submission and masochism (BDSM) without consent. "And all of the women, at some point, played along, calling him their master, texting him afterward that they needed him, even writing that they loved and missed him." However, the report emphasized that Gaiman's actions with these women went beyond what are typically understood as BDSM practices.

The writer denies the allegations. His representatives told the podcast "Tortoise" that "sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism may not be to everyone’s taste, but between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful," in a statement picked up by Variety.