Scarlett claims she was attacked while nannying for this famous author. Now, there's an update.

Content warning: This story includes descriptions of sexual assault/domestic violence that may be distressing to some readers/listeners.

When Scarlett Pavlovich got a job babysitting for Neil Gaiman in 2022, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

The then-22-year-old had struck up a friendship with his then-wife, US performer Amanda Palmer, following a chance encounter on the streets of Auckland.

As the women grew closer, the drama student seemed like an ideal fit for someone to look after Palmer's son. Palmer and Gaiman, who were separated, had just lost their previous nanny and needed help.

It marked the beginning of what Scarlett says was a nightmare. Scarlett alleges she was repeatedly raped, abused and assaulted by Gaiman while working as a live-in nanny in both Palmer and Gaiman's homes.

Now, Scarlett has filed a lawsuit against Gaiman in federal court on human-trafficking charges and accused him of sexual abuse, assault, rape, and coercion, Vulture reports. She's also named Palmer, accusing her of procuring her for Gaiman and failing to warn her about his history of alleged sexual misconduct.

The lawsuit claims Gaiman's alleged behaviour was "intended to coerce sexual services and free childcare from Scarlett by causing her to believe that if she did not perform such labour and services, she would suffer serious harm or physical restraint".

According to the complaint, Scarlett continued working for the couple because she was broke, homeless and Gaiman had told her he would help her writing career.

"She was, in effect, an economic hostage to Palmer and Gaiman," the complaint reads, per Vulture.

Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer have been named in Scarlett's lawsuit. Image: Getty.

The complaint claims Palmer "knowingly recruited Scarlett to come to Waiheke with the intention of obtaining Scarlett's uncompensated labour".

The suit suggests that Palmer was aware of Gaiman's alleged history of sexual misconduct, and brought Scarlett to his home anyway.

She allegedly told Gaiman that Scarlett was in an extremely vulnerable state and had a history of mental illness. In doing so, the suit claims she "recklessly disregarded the reality that Defendant Gaiman would so coerce Scarlett".

"Palmer was sufficiently aware that Gaiman was likely to target Scarlett that she warned Gaiman to stay away from Scarlett before she brought Scarlett to Gaiman's house as a babysitter," the complaint states.

"Yet Palmer never warned Scarlett of the known danger posed by Gaiman. Had Palmer warned Scarlett of the known danger posed by Gaiman, Scarlett would never have agreed to babysit Palmer's child at Gaiman's house."

Scarlett alleges Gaiman and Palmer violated federal human trafficking prohibitions and is seeking at least $US7 million ($A11 million) in damages.

Gaiman has denied the allegations.

What has Scarlett said about Neil Gaiman?

Scarlett detailed her horrific allegations in a lengthy expose in New York Magazine's January cover story. On her first day on the job, Gaiman allegedly assaulted her in a bathtub on his property.

While waiting for the child to finish a play date, he allegedly suggested Scarlett use the claw-foot tub in the garden while he worked. Scarlett says he then joined her in the tub naked, asked for her to sit on his lap and sexually assaulted her.

"He put his fingers straight into my ass and tried to put his penis in my ass. And I said, 'No, no.' Then he tried to rub his penis between my breasts, and I said 'no' as well. Then he asked if he could come on my face, and I said 'no' but he did anyway. He said, 'Call me 'master,' and I'll come.' He said, 'Be a good girl. You're a good little girl'," she told New York Magazine.

The alleged abuse didn't end there.

Neil Gaiman's work includes the comic book series The Sandman and the novels Good Omens, American Gods, Coraline and The Graveyard Book. Image: Getty.

On one occasion, Scarlett claims Gaiman beat her with a belt and forced her into anal sex, using butter as lubrication. Another time, she alleged Gaiman initiated sex with her in a hotel room while his young son was present. Scarlett told the publication he demanded she call him "master" and referred to her as "slave".

Scarlett is not the only woman to come forward. Mid last year, a six-episode podcast series by Tortoise, titled Master: The allegations against Neil Gaiman, outlined five allegations of sexual assault against the acclaimed British author behind Coraline and the comic-book series The Sandman.

In the New York Magazine cover story, published on its culture website Vulture, journalist Lila Shapiro spoke with four of those women, along with four others whose "stories share elements with theirs". The youngest alleged victim was 18, but most of the women were in their 20s when the alleged assaults occurred. Some of the alleged victims were fans, while others worked for Gaiman.

Another woman named Caroline began a sexual relationship with Gaiman while living on his property in 2018. In one instance, Caroline claims she was reading to his then four-year-old son in bed when Gaiman allegedly reached across the boy to grab her hand and put it on his penis.

"He didn't have boundaries. I remember thinking that there was something really wrong with him," she told the publication.

Eventually, she ended the sexual encounters and said Gaiman wanted her gone. She says she was forced to move off the property in exchange for signing a 16-page NDA and a payment of $300,000. Scarlett says she received an NDA too. A few months after signing, she received about $9,200 in payments for her "babysitting work".

Eight women have come out against Gaiman with allegations of sexual assault. Image: Getty.

Gaiman's representatives denied some of the encounters took place and said those that did were consensual and instances of practising BDSM (bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism).

They told Tortoise that "sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism may not be to everyone's taste, but between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful".

The kind of violence included in the allegations can be commonplace in consensual BDSM relationships. However, the foundation of BDSM culture is consent. All parties must clearly consent to the overall dynamic and each act, before they engage with it.

And while Vulture reports the women, at least at some point, played along with Gaiman's desires by calling him "master" and continuing to communicate with him, the women allege that consent and boundaries were never discussed.

Neil Gaiman responds.

Gaiman addressed the claims in a blog post, claiming the relationships were entirely consensual.

"As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognise and moments I don't, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen. I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever," he said.

The author said messages between him and his accusers showed "two people enjoying entirely consensual sexual relationships and wanting to see one another again". He claimed the relationships seemed positive and happy on both sides.

Despite this, Gaiman said he "could have and should have done so much better" in the relationships.

"I was obviously careless with people's hearts and feelings, and that's something that I really, deeply regret. It was selfish of me. I was caught up in my own story and I ignored other people's."

Several of Gaiman's projects have been paused or cancelled following the allegations. Image: Getty.

He continued: "As I reflect on my past — and as I re-review everything that actually happened as opposed to what is being alleged — I don't accept there was any abuse. To repeat, I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone."

"Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality. I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made. I'm not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can't accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn't do."

Amanda Palmer addresses the allegations.

Palmer issued a statement on January 16, saying her focus was on her son.

"As there are ongoing custody and divorce proceedings, I am not able to offer public comment. Please understand that I am first and foremost a parent. I ask for privacy at this time," she said.

A representative for the acclaimed singer-songwriter and performance artist told NME she was "profoundly disturbed" by the allegations.

"At this time her primary concern is, and must remain, the well-being of her son and therefore, to guard his privacy, she has no comment on these allegations," they said.

Palmer first met Gaiman in 2008. The paid married in 2011 and announced their divorce in 2022. They share one son together.

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Projects cancelled.

A slew of planned and ongoing projects connected to Gaiman have reportedly been left in limbo or canned amid the allegations.

Disney has paused its film adaptation of Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, according to IndieWire. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime series Good Omens will wrap up with a single 90-minute episode, after production on the show was halted following the allegations. Gaiman and his production company have stepped back from the project.

Netflix is still scheduled to release the second season of its TV adaptation of The Sandman, based on Gaiman's comic, but said last week it would be the last.

Feature image: Getty.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.