Neil Gaiman Sued by Former Nanny on Allegations of Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse and Rape

A former nanny who worked for Neil Gaiman and his estranged wife Amanda Palmer filed a federal lawsuit against the author on human trafficking allegations under the Trafficking Victim Protection Act. The nanny, Scarlett Pavlovich, also accused Gaiman, 64, of sexual abuse, assault, rape and coercion.

Pavlovich is one of multiple women who have accused Gaiman of sexual misconduct. She spoke to Vulture on record earlier this month, about six months after the British podcast Master published six episodes about five women with sexual assault allegations against Gaiman. The Sandman author has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sexual activity. Palmer, who is in the middle of divorce proceedings with Gaiman, wrote on Instagram on Jan. 15 that she was “not able to offer public comment” at the time.

Pavlovich’s attorneys, who declined to comment to PEOPLE, filed the lawsuit that names Gaiman and Palmer in Wisconsin, where the author owns a home. They also simultaneously filed lawsuits in Massachusetts and New York federal court that only named Palmer as a defendant “given the uncertainty” of Palmer’s state of residence. The actions against Palmer will continue “only in the district of [Palmer’s] choosing,” the complaint reads.

In her lawsuit against Gaiman, which also names Palmer, Pavlovich accused him of sexual violence on multiple occasions while working for Gaiman and Palmer in New Zealand. She met Palmer in Auckland in 2020, when she was 22, according to the lawsuit. They became “acquaintances” and Pavlovich says she would sometimes visit Palmer’s house on Waiheke Island and would help around the house. Pavlovich claims Palmer knew she was “economically insecure” and “had been suffering from mental health difficulties.”

Pavlovich claims she was raped by Gaiman for the first time in February 2022, after she was asked to babysit Gaiman and Palmer’s son in Waiheke. The lawsuit goes on to describe other instances of alleged sexual violence in graphic detail that allegedly happened while she was working for the former couple.

Although Pavlovich was told she would be paid, she wasn’t paid until months after her employment ended, she claims. Palmer “knowingly recruited Scarlett to come to Waiheke with the intention of obtaining Scarlett’s uncompensated labor,” the complaint alleges. The complaint describes Pavlovich as an “economic hostage to Palmer and Gaiman.”

Gaiman’s alleged behavior was “intended to coerce sexual services and free childcare from Scarlett by causing her to believe that if she did not perform such labor and services, she would suffer serious harm or physical restraint,” the complaint reads. 

As for Palmer, the complaint alleges that the musician “recklessly disregarded the fact that Scarlett would be forced to endure commercial sex acts committed by Gaiman.”

“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 reads. “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.”

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Pavlovich is seeking damages to be determined at trial. According to the complaint, the damages are “reasonably believed to be in excess of $1,000,000.00, including, without limitation, damages to physical well-being, emotional and psychological damages, past and future economic losses, past and future physical impairment damages including but not limited to PTSD, anxiety, and depression which are physical impairments of the brain, loss of career opportunities, together with punitive damages, plus prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees, expenses, costs and disbursements.”

Since Vulture published the allegations against Gaiman, Dark Horse Comics said it would no longer publish his works. Last week, Variety confirmed that Netflix’s television adaptation of The Sandman will end with its upcoming second season, although it was intended to be its last before filming began in 2023. A musical based on Gaiman’s novel Coraline was also canceled.

Representatives for Gaiman and Palmer did not immediately return PEOPLE’s request for comment.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.