On February 4, 2025, Scarlett Pavlovich, originally from New Zealand and now residing in Scotland, filed a lawsuit in federal court, accusing the renowned British author Neil Gaiman of repeated sexual assault. The lawsuit also implicates Amanda Palmer, Gaiman's estranged wife, claiming she played a role in "procuring and presenting" Pavlovich as a vulnerable individual, which in turn led to emotional, physical, and financial harm to the plaintiff.
In her complaint, Pavlovich recounts the events during her employment as a nanny, where she asserts Gaiman raped and assaulted her multiple times. The lawsuit further remarks on how she allegedly suffered from severe emotional distress and physical injuries as a result of these actions, alongside claims of inadequate compensation for her work within Gaiman and Palmer's household.
This troubling narrative first emerged in detail through a revealing New York Magazine article last month. Pavlovich had previously identified herself as one of Gaiman's accusers in a podcast alongside four other women, all conveying their experiences with abuse by the author. Gaiman, who has firmly denied these allegations, stated, “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever." Despite the lawsuit's implications, representatives for both Gaiman and Palmer did not provide comments when approached.
Pavlovich's acquaintance with Palmer began in New Zealand in 2020 when she was only 22 years old and faced with homelessness, often seeking refuge on the beach. Following the development of a relationship, she began assisting the couple with errands and occasionally babysitting their son, setting the stage for the troubling allegations that have now surfaced in this lawsuit.
In her complaint, Pavlovich recounts the events during her employment as a nanny, where she asserts Gaiman raped and assaulted her multiple times. The lawsuit further remarks on how she allegedly suffered from severe emotional distress and physical injuries as a result of these actions, alongside claims of inadequate compensation for her work within Gaiman and Palmer's household.
This troubling narrative first emerged in detail through a revealing New York Magazine article last month. Pavlovich had previously identified herself as one of Gaiman's accusers in a podcast alongside four other women, all conveying their experiences with abuse by the author. Gaiman, who has firmly denied these allegations, stated, “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever." Despite the lawsuit's implications, representatives for both Gaiman and Palmer did not provide comments when approached.
Pavlovich's acquaintance with Palmer began in New Zealand in 2020 when she was only 22 years old and faced with homelessness, often seeking refuge on the beach. Following the development of a relationship, she began assisting the couple with errands and occasionally babysitting their son, setting the stage for the troubling allegations that have now surfaced in this lawsuit.
