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A federal lawsuit filed Monday in Wisconsin accuses acclaimed author Neil Gaiman of decades of sexual misconduct, including repeatedly raping a woman hired as a nanny for his young son. The complaint also alleges that his estranged wife, musician Amanda Palmer, was aware of the abuse but failed to intervene.

Allegations of Abuse and Coercion

According to the lawsuit, multiple women have accused Gaiman of sexual assault in recent months, including Scarlett Pavlovich, a New Zealand native who claims the author raped her multiple times after offering her a live-in nanny position. The suit states that Palmer, who separated from Gaiman in 2020, knew about the abuse but remained silent.

Pavlovich, 22 at the time, was financially struggling and a survivor of past sexual assault when she met Palmer in Auckland in 2020. By February 2022, despite their separation, Gaiman and Palmer lived in close proximity on Waiheke Island, where Palmer asked Pavlovich to babysit their child at both residences.

On Feb. 4, 2022, Pavlovich was watching the child when Gaiman invited her to dinner at his home. The complaint alleges that after serving her wine, Gaiman coerced her into using an outdoor bathtub, then returned naked and assaulted her. During the attack, the suit claims, Gaiman demanded she call him "master" while referring to her as a "good little girl."

The lawsuit further alleges that Palmer had explicitly warned Gaiman not to pursue Pavlovich due to her mental health struggles. Despite this, Gaiman reportedly told Pavlovich that hearing Palmer’s warning only intensified his desire for her.

Economic Exploitation and Continued Assault

Following the alleged assault, Pavlovich returned to Palmer’s home and finished her weekend of babysitting but was not compensated for months. Later, Palmer offered her a live-in nanny position, which Pavlovich accepted due to financial hardship.

However, the complaint claims that while employed, Pavlovich was subjected to repeated rapes and physical violence. The lawsuit details instances where Gaiman allegedly choked her, struck her with a belt, and raped her in a hotel room while his child was present.

Trapped without pay or resources, Pavlovich felt she had no choice but to submit to Gaiman's control. The suit states that Palmer and Gaiman intentionally withheld her wages, making her an "economic hostage".

Palmer’s Alleged Knowledge and Lack of Action

Weeks into her employment, Gaiman left for Europe with their child, and Pavlovich confided in Palmer about the assaults. According to the complaint, Palmer was unsurprised and responded, "I bet he did." The suit further alleges that Palmer admitted that over a dozen women had previously accused Gaiman of similar abuse, including former employees.

Despite this knowledge, the lawsuit states that Palmer failed to warn Pavlovich beforehand, leaving her vulnerable to Gaiman’s actions. Though Palmer initially promised to help her, the complaint alleges she only relocated Pavlovich temporarily before abandoning her.

Legal Action and Seeking Justice

After experiencing homelessness and struggling with mental health crises, Pavlovich filed a police report, believing Palmer would corroborate her claims. However, Palmer allegedly refused to speak to authorities, leading to no legal action being taken against Gaiman at the time.

The lawsuit accuses Gaiman and Palmer of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit trafficking, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and economic exploitation. It seeks compensatory damages, legal fees, and other reparations.

Pavlovich’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither Gaiman nor Palmer could be reached for a statement.