Neil Gaiman Accused Of Sexual Assault Pt II

[hihelenhi]

As we're nearly at the end of the first thread, let's make sure we keep the topic current.

There have been five women now who have spoken to podcasts about the predatory behaviour of Neil Gaiman.

First thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5112128-neil-gaiman-accused-of-sexual-assault

71 days since allegations of sexual assault were made against Neil Gaiman, who has yet to respond.

Having Visions of us keeping this up for years. 5233 days since Neil Gaiman was accused of sexual assault...

He gets his name plastered all over the covers of books by better writers, most of them dead - it feels like territorial scent marking. He's always been very good at marketing strategy and up till now its paid off - still is, in that there is currently silence from the BBC, the UK left-liberal press and all those who have worked with them - not a peep of disappointment or dismay at the revelations from any of the actors or collaborators in his work. Does his behaviour not strike them as appalling? Is it the unremarkable 'norm' in their circles?

I think a lot of his young readers think he's more brilliant and original than he is, because they've never discovered the sources that he draws on. And that suits his ego very well.

The silence around him probably works in a couple of different ways. For the BBC, they're heavily invested in his work. For the actors, I think a lot of actors who make a big deal of their outspokenness are really cowards when it's not some socially approved cause.

I don't know why the Guardian is so reluctant to touch this, but he's been such a fixture in the Guardian over the years that I assume he's got mates there.

My cynical side wonders if he was storing up credit for the future, Godfather-style.

What explains the silence from Amanda Palmer? I guess they've got a kid together, so that might explain why she doesn't want it out in the open.

That also might explain the silence of his friends like Tori Amos. If they feel they are protecting NG's young kid, that might be a good reason to say nothing.

As far as actors and professional collaborators go, I suspect it's purely self-interest. They don't want to lose work and favour. As soon as it looks like NG is over, they'll be jumping on that bandwagon to talk about how they are appalled and horrified. And as long as the mainstream press are hands off, they can justify saying, well we didn't know/didn't think it was anything more than rumours.

"Some day, Sir Terry, and that day may never come, I'll ask you to do a service for me. But for now, accept this blurb as a gift."

I just can't understand why this behaviour seems so prevalent and acceptable for men. It's so depressing. These men were (probably) raised by women. What makes them have such low regard for women? NG persisting with penetration when asked not to. Like it was his right.

And it just goes on and on.

The case of Gisele Pilicot is horrific. I'm in awe of her strength to put herself through this. That poor family and all the other families affected. And why it takes 4 months to convict these rapists is beyond me. Horrendous. Imagine living in that small town wondering who the other 30 men are?

https://deadline.com/2024/09/neil-gaiman-good-omens-season-3-step-back-1236084798/

Gaiman offers to step back from Good Omens s3… wow. Was he pushed or has this come from him? Still no statement in sight. Presumably he’ll still profit from Good Omens - and we don’t yet know what lies in store for The Sandman.

Remember when Glinner was asked to step away from the Father Ted musical? He was told to remove his name from the show, or else it wouldn’t be made. They offered him 200k to bugger off and he said no. He’d done nothing wrong, after all.

Bet they’ve given him the choice to Step or Be Pushed. I don’t think it should be made at all now, because it’s irrevocably tied to him as an original (in the loosest sense of the word) author. He put himself up as some kind of medium / mouthpiece of Sir Pterry for the tv sequels so that way he can keep his finger in that particular pie. It’s probably not even about the money for him anymore - ego yet again 🙄
If you hear “Good Omens” you’ll think of him. So let it stay in the past as a great book and an increasingly desperate cash-in of a tv franchise.

I don't think he's super rich, but he's 63 and could probably live fairly comfortably for the rest of his life without working again.

Don't underestimate ego though. I keep thinking NG's peak fame as a writer was about 15 years ago. He's still famous, but he hasn't written a novel or graphic novel in years and mostly works as a showrunner for projects based on his old IPs.

It's not that different from how Spike Lee, who's been an old fart for ages, still wants to be the angry young man he was 40 years ago. Or these washed up actors who have barely worked in decades, who spend all day tweeting about politics and are sometimes rewarded with a Buzzfeed article saying "washed up actor from that show you kind of remember slams Trump".

I have ever more appreciation for the likes of Gene Hackman or Jack Nicholson, who retire and stay retired and don't feel they have to prove their relevance to anyone, and once in a while you see a social media post reminding you they're still alive. It's more dignified than a 60 something man wearing a leather jacket.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/media/article/good-omens-season-3-neil-gaiman-allegations-0d5j3069z

Some interesting comments on this post. Believable theories that still support the victims. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/PDi8vWFAKD5F9qsy/

That's a private FB group.

Sorry - didn't realise.

From the Deadline link:

'Gaiman’s position is that he denies the allegations and is said to be disturbed by them'

lol I bet he is.

I'm glad the Times is finally reporting on this.

Not as "disturbing" as we find them and your behaviour, Neil. Especially since your repeat patterns of abuse, manipulation and sexual coercion have become more and more apparent.

Creep.

I echo people’s fears this will probably never see the inside of a courtroom, but I hope this all prompts a serious cultural conversation around sexuality, particularly as it pertains to women and men, that consent by itself is no where a good enough bar on its own to judge ethical behaviour in the sexual realm.

I hope there are gains to the notions of sex, power, money and fame and when they intersect are somehow a given that exploitation occur that we can do nothing about. That it isn’t all glamorous cools, sexy and edgy. It’s all pretty wretched, creepy and seedy.

Still we have a long way to go…

Archive of the Times article. https://archive.ph/gkb4M

Radio 4 have finally decided to cover this story. It's currently on The World at One, one of the serious news programmes. From the reporting you'd imagine that the story broke yesterday.

We'll know he's really done for if the Radio Times starts reporting it.

Daily Star probably prepping a title with Boffin gone Bad in it.

Women, like JKR, get criticised/ cancelled / threatened for things they didn't even do, just what people who don't like them think they've said.

Men don't get held to account for the things they actually did do, it seems.

I have come across people IRL who seem to be 'triggered' by any mention of anything to do with Harry Potter.... but are quite happy to enjoy a film directed by convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein. Double standards at work.

Well it does very much look like AP was involved in finding vulnerable young women and sending them to NG to abuse, so I think it's fair enough to question her.

And this discussion has been going on for two and a half months now, so the silence of NG's friends has come up more than once. It's not a question of blaming the women. Just having a conversation that covers various aspects and nuances of the situation.

If you read back through the threads, you'll see your point has been made a few times by various commenters. Of course NG is the person who should be held to account for his crimes.