Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer sued over sexual abuse allegations

Scarlett Pavlovich, who last month accused Neil Gaiman of a litany of disturbing sexual crimes, has filed suit against Gaiman and his estranged wife, Amanda Palmer. Made public earlier today, the suit accuses Gaiman of sexual abuse and Palmer of being aware of his "decades-long history of sexual misconduct" and failing to protect Pavlovich from him. Per the briefing, Palmer facilitated Pavlovich's relationship with Gaiman and, therefore, she is suing both under the Trafficking Victim Protection Act, which gives victims international protection against human trafficking.

Pavlovich's allegations were reported in a bombshell New York Magazine report detailing how the then-22-year-old Pavlovich met Palmer in 2020. Pavlovich was homeless at the time and estranged from her family. After meeting Palmer, whom she was a fan of, Pavlovich was hired as a nanny for Gaiman and Palmer's children. After being hired, she was allegedly raped by Gaiman, and when Pavlovich alerted Palmer to his behavior, she replied, "I bet he did."

The suit claims that both she and Gaiman "knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, and/or obtained Scarlett for labor or services while knowing she would be forced to engage in sexual acts as a condition of receiving the pay and housing they promised her." The suit also states that Gaiman "intended to coerce sexual services and free childcare" from Pavolvich under threat that "if she did not perform such labor and services, she would suffer serious harm or physical restraint." Pavlovich claims Palmer was aware of the hardships in her life, including that she was raped by a 45-year-old man when she was 15. Therefore, Palmer "recklessly disregarded" that she could become one of Gaiman's victims.

Gaiman is being sued in Wisconsin, where he owns a home. Pavlovich sued Palmer in New York and Massachusetts, where she claims residency and will "proceed against Palmer only in the district of her choosing." The suit argues that Pavlovch is entitled to damages for past and future physical, mental, and economic harm. The amount will be determined at trial, but the complaint says it is "reasonably believed to be in excess of $1,000,000."

Correction: The headline of this article has been updated for accuracy.