Amanda Palmer, the estranged wife of renowned fantasy author Neil Gaiman, has strongly denied accusations of negligence made by a woman who previously worked for the couple.
The claims are detailed in a lawsuit filed across three US states – Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York – on Monday. In the legal documents, Scarlett Pavlovich alleges that Palmer befriended her when she was a 22-year-old homeless woman in New Zealand, leading to her working for the couple, reports the BBC.
The lawsuit, filed in multiple states due to uncertainties over Palmer’s whereabouts, also includes allegations of sexual assault made against Gaiman. Additionally, Pavlovich claims Palmer had informed her of prior complaints from over a dozen women.
The lawsuit accused Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer of violating federal human trafficking laws, as well as making claims of assault, battery, emotional distress, and negligence.
In response, Palmer, who resides in the US, took to Instagram to briefly address the matter. While she refused to go into specifics, she denied the allegations.
Gaiman, the 64-year-old fantasy author, has already denied accusations of sexual misconduct made by eight women.
Palmer, a member of the band The Dresden Dolls, posted on Instagram: “I thank you all deeply for continuing to respect my recent request for privacy as I navigate this extremely difficult moment. I must protect my young child and his right to privacy.
“With that as my priority, I will not respond to the specific allegations being made against me except to say that I deny the allegations and will respond in due course. My heart goes out to all survivors.”
On 13 January, Gaiman was accused by eight women of sexual misconduct, including four who had previously spoken out in a New York Magazine article. As a result, publisher Dark Horse Comics cancelled upcoming projects, and a UK stage adaptation of Gaiman’s book Coraline was also pulled.
Gaiman has firmly denied the claims, stating: “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”
Gaiman and Palmer married in 2011, and they announced the birth of their son in 2015.
In a joint statement released in 2022, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer announced their decision to divorce after many years of marriage.
“After many years of marriage, we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” they shared.
“While we will no longer be partners in marriage, we will remain in one another’s lives as co-parents committed to raising our wonderful son in a loving and compassionate environment.
“We deeply appreciate everyone respecting our family’s privacy so we can focus on our son as we enter this new chapter in our lives.”