I knew his name for over a decade before I ever read his works, which include The Sandman, and Anansi Boys. If you have watched Good Omens with David Tennant and Micheal Sheen, Gaiman co-wrote the source material with Terry Pratchett. He is also responsible for American Gods.
Even if you have never encountered his literary works, you have probably seen him online. Gaiman is an outspoken activist who falls on the liberal side of the cultural war. He routinely speaks out against Right Wing ideas and won’t hesitate to tell conservative viewers to stay away if they can’t stand the LGBTQ concepts in adaptations of his books.
So naturally, the recent sexual allegations against the author caught everyone off guard. The allegations originate from sexual relationships he pursued with a 20-year-old (while in his 40s) and a 23-year-old (while in his 60s), although the details have raised questions about the veracity of the accusations.
The first (alleged) victim met Gaiman at 18. She mentions ‘rough and painful sex she neither wanted nor enjoyed’ during their relationship, which began two years later, including an incident that occurred while she had an infection. The second (alleged) victim was his child’s nanny.
Their sexual relationship began mere hours after they met (at his home in New Zealand). She mentions ‘degrading penetrative sexual acts’ that led to ‘Celestial pain.’ Gaiman denies the allegations, asserting that he acquired consent before pursuing sexual relations with each woman.
Additionally, he went on to have consensual romantic relationships with both women. The nanny reported Gaiman to the New Zealand police but they dismissed her complaint because of insufficient evidence. Suffice it to say, the book community is up in arms. Gaiman is popular.
Some people don’t know what to think, so they have removed themselves from the conversation. Others are convinced that he is guilty and they have begun condemning anyone who dares to recommend Gaiman’s books. They keep clashing with a third section that refuses to pass judgment on Gaiman until the investigation ends.
They believe that Gaiman is innocent until proven guilty and he deserves a fair opportunity to argue his case. They won’t discard him until someone presents evidence definitively proving his guilt. As such, they continue to operate as though nothing has changed.
Interestingly, the furor surrounding Gaiman is not as loud as what we have seen in previous cases, primarily because Gaiman is well-liked. Most people are desperately hoping he is innocent.
However, that attitude has exposed them to criticism from readers who have noticed that they rarely show such grace to authors whose politics clash with their beliefs. In other words, their hypocrisy is showing. I agree with the side that promotes caution and patience. You shouldn’t condemn anyone based on allegations.
Questions as to whether people should continue reading Gaiman’s books don’t matter right now. Wait until the investigation reaches a verdict. The police will either exonerate the author or charge him. Although, I agree that the absence of sufficient evidence does not necessarily prove his innocence.
Sexual assault allegations are notoriously difficult to prove, especially if you wait two decades to report them and they occur within the confines of consensual relationships and marriages.
inarticle} inarticle}