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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Neil Gaiman accused of sexual assault

1000 replies

WandsOut · 04/07/2024 18:06

www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sandman-writer-neil-gaiman-denies-142813982.html

Story still unfolding in the news

OP posts:
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75
NoBinturongsHereMate · 15/08/2024 09:46

I was thinking I'm glad Douglas Adams died because even though we lost a genius, at least we don't have to find out he was a creep or a misogynist.

Same.with Terry Pratchet. Whatever his daughter may say, I can't believe the man who wrote Granny Weatherwax - and so often about the importance of seeing what is really there - would have been taken in. And now nobody can disprove that belef.

CorruptedCauldron · 15/08/2024 10:44

NoBinturongsHereMate · 15/08/2024 09:46

I was thinking I'm glad Douglas Adams died because even though we lost a genius, at least we don't have to find out he was a creep or a misogynist.

Same.with Terry Pratchet. Whatever his daughter may say, I can't believe the man who wrote Granny Weatherwax - and so often about the importance of seeing what is really there - would have been taken in. And now nobody can disprove that belef.

I remember seeing a post from a trans activist online saying they were glad Terry P wasn’t here any more so he couldn’t disappoint them by coming out as gender critical. It doesn’t sit right with me that anyone should be glad someone they admire has died! I do understand the sentiment though - not wanting to be let down by your heroes, so you can continue to enjoy their work.

I also reckon Terry was GC - as well as being a lovely man.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 15/08/2024 11:11

Oh yes, definitely not glad-glad - I wish he could have been around (and writing) for ever. But it's a small consolation that he's safe from the possibility of that particular disappointment.

Not that I can possibly believe he would, but there are so many who should know better. Who do know better. And yes, I'm looking at Alice Roberts ...

VictorianBigot · 15/08/2024 11:40

The musician Neko Case was a big disappointment for me. I'd been a fan since the beginning of her solo career. She used to talk about feminism and women's rights, but then started posting on social media about trans stuff and how she loves drag queens and anyone who doesn't can fuck off. I fucked off and haven't felt like listening to her music since.

taylorswift1989 · 15/08/2024 11:41

Yes, I agree it's a terrible thing to think! I admit to being a terrible person sometimes. Douglas Adams is one of my favourite and most beloved writers and it would break my heart if I found out he was a woman hater. I don't care about NG at all - I like some of his books but that's it, really.

girlwhowearsglasses · 15/08/2024 12:42

taylorswift1989 · 15/08/2024 11:41

Yes, I agree it's a terrible thing to think! I admit to being a terrible person sometimes. Douglas Adams is one of my favourite and most beloved writers and it would break my heart if I found out he was a woman hater. I don't care about NG at all - I like some of his books but that's it, really.

quite quite so.
For many years I only knew NG as the writer of a biography of Douglas Adams

Villagetoraiseachild · 15/08/2024 12:59

VictorianBigot · 14/08/2024 16:55

I’m getting the impression the whole thing is like a cult. It’s very odd.

If it waddles like a 🦆 and it quacks like a 🦆, chances are it is a 🦆.

Villagetoraiseachild · 15/08/2024 13:00

VictorianBigot · 14/08/2024 16:55

I’m getting the impression the whole thing is like a cult. It’s very odd.

If it waddles like a 🦆 and it quacks like a 🦆, chances are it is a 🦆.

notathenabutcassandra · 15/08/2024 13:27

taylorswift1989 · 15/08/2024 09:28

This is so sad (and self-involved) but the other day I was thinking I'm glad Douglas Adams died because even though we lost a genius, at least we don't have to find out he was a creep or a misogynist. I don't think I could have got over DA saying "transwomen are women, non binary people are valid."

I saw that NG is writing a sequel or doing something with HHGTTG and that pissed me off no end.

Ha! I’d be surprised if NG releases anything in the near future.

Another publisher meeting today and again we reiterated an absolute NG cancellation. Everyone is being very diplomatic but everyone also knows exactly what is being said.

taylorswift1989 · 15/08/2024 13:47

Just saw this on fb...

Neil Gaiman accused of sexual assault
notathenabutcassandra · 15/08/2024 13:49

taylorswift1989 · 15/08/2024 13:47

Just saw this on fb...

Wow. Bloody brilliant from Private Eye.

VictorianBigot · 15/08/2024 17:09

Excellent.

CorruptedCauldron · 15/08/2024 17:31

Great from Private Eye. We must be approaching the tipping point now, surely?!

DeanElderberry · 16/08/2024 06:18

Excellent from Private Eye.

notathenabutcassandra · 16/08/2024 08:16

Sorry! Yesterday's update ran away from me...

Neil Gaiman accused of sexual assault
notathenabutcassandra · 16/08/2024 11:08

I would expect a statement in the near future...

taylorswift1989 · 16/08/2024 11:43

Been expecting it for a while though!

StainlessSteelMouse · 16/08/2024 11:45

I'm not sure what he can say though.

To play devil's advocate, if I were his PR I'd have advised him at the start to get out in front of the allegations, not contest what was in the public domain and issue a grovelling apology for any harm he had caused. The fandom might have bought that if he had done it early. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repenteth...

I wouldn't have advised him to fight back unless there was some factual claim that he could disprove.

Going into hiding and hoping the thing goes away might be his only option, but it's really not a good option. It invites more allegations, maybe to the point where his creative partners can't sustain silence any more.

One thing about Johnny Depp was that he had a long list of ex-girlfriends who went on the record to say that Amber Heard's account wasn't the Johnny they knew. That didn't by itself disprove anything Amber said - it's likely the two of them were a uniquely toxic combination. But it did mean there wasn't similar fact evidence to bolster Amber's case, and much more rested on her own reliability as a witness.

You notice that's not the case with NG. He has a huge number of celebrity friends, and none of them are popping up to be character witnesses for him. Some more minor creators who could do with his patronage are wondering why they didn't spot the signs, and the really famous ones are staying absolutely silent. Maybe because Neil has asked them to.

I wonder at what point we'll start to see TV shows being quietly cancelled.

YellowAsteroid · 16/08/2024 12:46

Very astute observations @StainlessSteelMouse - I'm trying to think what else NG could do - lying low is probably the least worst of his options.

SpidersAreShitheads · 16/08/2024 14:40

Honestly?

I think it might actually blow over.

It’s only being reported by niche media. There are plenty of people out there who read Neil Gaiman or watch his tv show adaptations without having a clue who he is.

Plus I’ve heard lots of “well, he’s not been arrested for anything so he can’t have done THAT much wrong….”

There have been plenty of angsty situations that people - mainly women - have railed against vociferously. It blows over because ultimately society as a whole doesn’t really care what some angry women think.

I reckon he might just lay low, wait for it all to blow over, then gradually start to rebuild on a low key level.

He might not completely regain his status but I doubt he’ll be a pariah long term. Not unless something truly horrific comes out that no one can excuse or explain away.

It’s depressing but I genuinely think this is the case. That’s why continuing to make noise about it is so important.

StainlessSteelMouse · 16/08/2024 17:44

What beats me, though maybe it shouldn't, is that YA publishing is a very easy place to get cancelled. I would never write a YA book, simply because the YA scene is fucking insane. There are campaigns against individual authors for often very vague offences against identity politics, there are very active whisper networks, at least once a year there's an open letter goes around calling for more blacklisting.

Yet none of this has ever touched Neil Gaiman. Maybe going after an abusive man with actual power in the industry is not as appealing as going after some obscure female author who a friend of a friend suspects might vote Republican.

VictorianBigot · 16/08/2024 17:46

His PR bots appear to have been very busy:

https://bsky.app/profile/monicabyrne13.bsky.social/post/3kznypm4x6g2u

VictoryOrDeath · 16/08/2024 17:49

I think it will probably blow over to a certain extent as well.

But for me, right now, his behaviour sounds awful, and by extension his work is tainted by that. I'm so disappointed.

VictorianBigot · 16/08/2024 17:50

https://x.com/dancow/status/1823560886331527401

I like the word cloud

annejumps · 16/08/2024 17:54

StainlessSteelMouse · 16/08/2024 17:44

What beats me, though maybe it shouldn't, is that YA publishing is a very easy place to get cancelled. I would never write a YA book, simply because the YA scene is fucking insane. There are campaigns against individual authors for often very vague offences against identity politics, there are very active whisper networks, at least once a year there's an open letter goes around calling for more blacklisting.

Yet none of this has ever touched Neil Gaiman. Maybe going after an abusive man with actual power in the industry is not as appealing as going after some obscure female author who a friend of a friend suspects might vote Republican.

He's a man who's expressed support for trans rights, unlike those evil terves.

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