J.K. Rowling has voiced her surprise at the literary community’s silence regarding sexual assault allegations against writer Neil Gaiman. Eight women, including a former babysitter for Gaiman’s child, have accused him of predatory behavior. Gaiman has denied all allegations, which first surfaced in 2024.
Rowling’s comments, made on social media, highlighted the contrast between the literary community’s vocal response to Harvey Weinstein’s accusations and their muted reaction to Gaiman’s case. Her remarks sparked a debate, with some users recalling Gaiman’s controversial short stories and others comparing his case to those of Weinstein, Epstein, and Ivor Caplin.
The literary crowd that had a hell of a lot to say about Harvey Weinstein before he was convicted has been strangely muted in its response to multiple accusations against Neil Gaiman from young women who'd never met, yet – as with Weinstein – tell remarkably similar stories.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 13, 2025
The allegations against Gaiman include coercing a babysitter into a non-consensual act and engaging in BDSM practices without discussing boundaries or obtaining consent. Despite Gaiman’s denials and his representatives’ claims of “false memories,” the accusations have negatively impacted his work, causing delays in the production of “Good Omens”.
Rowling’s criticism has brought attention to the issue, but the literary community’s response remains subdued. The situation continues to unfold as more details emerge and the debate around the allegations and the community’s reaction persists.
