# Neil Gaiman accused of being serial sexual abuser **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 5, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781 "2024-07-05T19:48:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/21 "2024-07-05T23:33:19Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > …Rowling? YouGov’s list of [Famous Contemporary Fiction Writers](https://today.yougov.com/ratings/entertainment/fame/contemporary-fiction-writer/all) has him at #36 overall with 48% name recognition, sorted by Fame. So it’s a coin flip if a random person knows who he is. King is an easy #1 with 96%, Rowling is #2 with 89% and R.R. Martin is #15 with 59% if we’re looking for fantasy writers. Stephanie Meyer of Twilight fame (which I’d call fantasy, YMMV) edges Gaiman out at #29 and 51% recognition. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/22 "2024-07-05T23:38:52Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Not in my world. I may have heard the name before, but if pressed I might have guess that he was the inventor of the leisure suit or one of Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husbands. Good thing I said “He is a massively huge figure in science fiction and fantasy.” and not “He is a massively huge figure to the random general public.”, then, isn’t it? Here are some of his recent obscure adaptations: > **[Watch Good Omens - Season 1 | Prime Video](https://www.amazon.com/Good-Omens-Season-1/dp/B089XPN85Z)** > > The End of the World is coming, which means a fussy Angel and a loose-living Demon who’ve become overly fond of life on Earth are forced to form an unlikely alliance to stop Armageddon. But they have lost the Antichrist, an 11-year-old boy unaware... > **[Watch American Gods, Season 1 | Prime Video](https://www.amazon.com/American-Gods/dp/B06XW7HSDP)** > > A recently released ex-convict named Shadow meets a mysterious man who calls himself > **[Watch The Sandman | Netflix Official Site](https://www.netflix.com/title/81150303?preventIntent=true)** > > After years of imprisonment, Morpheus — the King of Dreams — embarks on a journey across worlds to find what was stolen from him and restore his power. > **[Watch Dead Boy Detectives | Netflix Official Site](https://www.netflix.com/title/81679967?preventIntent=true)** > > Two teen ghosts work alongside a clairvoyant to solve mysteries for their supernatural clientele — until a powerful witch complicates their plans. And one upcoming one: > **[Anansi Boys (TV series)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anansi_Boys_(TV_series))** > > Anansi Boys is an upcoming British fantasy miniseries created by Neil Gaiman based on Gaiman's novel of the same name, which follows the two sons of the spider-god Anansi. The series is set to be released on Amazon Prime Video. > The first and sixth episodes are written by Gaiman. > In 2014, it was reported a BBC television miniseries of Anansi Boys was in the works. It would be made by Red Production Company with Gaiman as executive producer. The project did not come into fruition, and elements... ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2024, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/23 "2024-07-05T23:54:38Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > ETA: Do two instances, 19 years apart, really qualify as “serial sexual abuse”? Granted, perhaps more will come to light, but that seems rather… sensationalized. It sounds like it was [an open secret about him](https://www.threads.net/@brosandprose/post/C9AWXfaOYV1) in the convention circuit, much like Isaac Asimov’s skeevyness. (For some of you: Isaac Asimov was a man who wrote science fiction books.) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/24 "2024-07-06T00:05:37Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > (For some of you: Isaac Asimov was a man who wrote science fiction books.) (And a bunch of science popularization essays that got collected into books.) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/25 "2024-07-06T00:46:11Z")
Mostly second hand. The best man at my wedding is a good friend of his. One of my oldest friends worked for him for a bit. Another one of my oldest friends has been TRYING to sleep with him unsuccessfully since she was - at best - a young adult (and she WAS hot - she’s now in her 50s and still pretty hot). I used to - through these friends - have an invitation to property he owned in Scotland. And I have never heard as much as a rumor that his sexual activity is inappropriate - other than he is heavily pursued by women, has no problem getting laid, and takes advantage of it, then never calls any of the women afterwards - but there is nothing inappropriate about a guy sleeping with women who are throwing themselves at him. (On the other hand, don’t get me started on Steve Brust) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/26 "2024-07-06T01:10:10Z")
That is by author name. I wonder what it would be by their work. E.G. Do people know “Good Omens” was written by him? I bet they don’t but they know the show. ETA: I wonder how many sci-fi/fantasy authors most people on the street could name. Tolkien, Asimov maybe. Clarke? Wells? Martin? Verne? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/27 "2024-07-06T01:22:58Z")
I’m old school enough not to include YA writers. They’re separate. I know Gaiman wrote some major YA books, but he’s done major adult works as well. I forgot about Martin, though. He would be on top. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/28 "2024-07-06T01:23:16Z")
> [@Kron](#): > > There are no heroes. I never heard anything bad about Terry Pratchett. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/29 "2024-07-06T01:23:30Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > E.G. Do people know “Good Omens” was written by him? I bet they don’t but they know the show. I feel like it’s quite securely a nerd show (and book), and nerds know who he is. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/30 "2024-07-06T01:38:48Z")
Well, it has gotten a third season scheduled which is not common these days for nerd shows. I’d liken it to Blade Runner. Most people know the movie (even if they have not seen it). The nerds know it is based on a book by Philip K. Dick (and I bet it takes a nerd to even know that name). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/31 "2024-07-06T01:44:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > That is by author name. I wonder what it would be by their work. Well, yeah. This all got started when people said “Who?” and other people were amazed that the first group didn’t know the name. Instead of shock, it could have just gone “Neil Gaiman…” “Who?” “Wrote American Gods, Coraline, Lucifer…” “Ah, okay”. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/32 "2024-07-06T01:59:23Z")
If he isn’t the most famous living fantasy writer in the world, he’s at least close to it. I’ve seen him several times at science fiction/fantasy cons. He signed some of my copies of his books. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/33 "2024-07-06T02:01:07Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > Not in my world. I may have heard the name before, but if pressed I might have guess that he was the inventor of the leisure suit or one of Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husbands. > > Good thing I said “He is a massively huge figure in science fiction and fantasy.” and not “He is a massively huge figure to the random general public.”, then, isn’t it? You literally compared him to Stephen King and George Lucas, both of whom I am very familiar with. Your comment above is goalpost-moving. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/34 "2024-07-06T02:05:13Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > If he isn’t the most famous living fantasy writer in the world, he’s at least close to it. Enough that he was already being paid tens of thousands for public speaking back in 2011 when he was called a pencil-necked weasel for it. > **[Neil Gaiman hits back at US politician's theft accusation](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/may/05/neil-gaiman-us-politician-theft-accusation)** > > Author, whom Minnesota Republican says he 'hates', insists that his $45,000 fee for a public appearance was market rate ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/35 "2024-07-06T02:06:48Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Your comment above is goalpost-moving. You are welcome to feel that way, just as I am welcome to feel that people who feel the need to drop into a thread and say “never heard of them” are announcing the limits of their knowledge, not the limits of the person’s fame. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/36 "2024-07-06T02:13:52Z")
Fame is [literally defined](https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/fame) as being known by people ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/37 "2024-07-06T02:19:52Z")
How many people? I get that is an annoying question but I think it is important. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/38 "2024-07-06T02:20:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Fame is [literally defined](https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/fame) as being known by people But by _which_ people? Is (choose your favorite sportsball competetor who makes 50 million a year) not famous if 500 million people in China have never heard of him? Or is he famous because 50 million people in the US have? Neil Gaiman is deeply famous among peope who are interested in sf/f. He is not famous among people who don’t read fiction or watch TV. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/39 "2024-07-06T02:23:24Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > (On the other hand, don’t get me started on Steve Brust) …actually I’m curious about this, if you don’t mind getting started. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781/40 "2024-07-06T02:26:32Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Neil Gaiman is deeply famous among peope who are interested in sf/f So he’s niche famous unlike Stephen King or George Lucas who are broadly famous. He’s more famous than most people under YouGov’s polling umbrella (given that 50% of people had heard of him, weighted towards Millennials) but not widely famous in that he doesn’t need an explanation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-gaiman-accused-of-being-serial-sexual-abuser/1003781.md?page=3)