Neil Gaiman Seeks Court Dismissal of Lawsuit Involving Serious Allegations: What You Need to Know

Neil Gaiman is asking a US court to dismiss a lawsuit claiming he raped and sexually assaulted a woman named Scarlett Pavlovich. She previously worked as a nanny for Gaiman and his ex-partner, Amanda Palmer. The lawsuit was filed last month.

In a motion filed on Tuesday, Gaiman’s team argued that the case should be handled in New Zealand, where the alleged events took place, not in the US. Gaiman labeled Pavlovich as a “fantasist” who has made up a story of abuse.

Gaiman shared WhatsApp messages that he claims show their relationship was consensual. He pointed out a message from Pavlovich that said, “Thank you for a lovely lovely night.” His lawyers argue that these messages support his case and indicate she was a willing participant in their relationship.

Pavlovich filed her lawsuit on February 3, alleging that the abuse started on her first day of work, February 4, 2022. She claims Gaiman suggested she take a bath and then sexually assaulted her. However, Gaiman emphasized that at no point did she act in a way that suggested she was not consenting. When he confronted her about the allegations, she reportedly exclaimed, “Oh my God. Neil! I never said that … Rape? WHAT? This is the first I have heard of this.”

Pavlovich later stated in another message, “It was consensual – how many times do I have to fucking tell everyone.” However, during a podcast, she expressed difficulty dealing with the situation and mentioned her “delusion.”

Gaiman’s legal team described Pavlovich’s claims as false and accused her of trying to gain attention through the suit. They described her accusations as a “sham.” In total, nine women have accused Gaiman of misconduct, with eight interviewed for a New York Magazine article released in January. Gaiman has strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating he has never engaged in non-consensual activity.

Pavlovich filed her lawsuit across three district courts: Wisconsin, New York, and Massachusetts. While Gaiman’s motion to dismiss was filed in Wisconsin, the lawsuit also includes allegations against Palmer for human trafficking, which she has denied.

Palmer and Gaiman revealed their decision to divorce in November 2022. In January, Palmer commented on the situation, saying she could not speak about the allegations due to ongoing custody and divorce issues, though her representative expressed deep concern over the claims against Gaiman.

As of now, Pavlovich has not responded to requests for comment from the press.

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