In July 2024, Tortoise Media reported that Gaiman had been accused of sexual assault and released a podcast series which covered allegations made by five women.

On Monday, New York Magazine and its website Vulture reported allegations from eight women – four of whom also participated in Tortoise’s podcast – claiming to have had similar experiences with Gaiman.

One of the women, who had been babysitting Gaiman’s five-year-old child, alleges that he offered her a bath in his garden before joining her in the tub naked, asking her to sit on his lap, and that he sexually assaulted her.

While the article states that all of the accusers had at some point played along with Gaiman’s desires to some extent by calling him “master” and continuing to communicate with him, the women allege that consent and specific BDSM activities which they say took place had not been discussed and agreed upon prior to them happening.

Gaiman’s representative’s previously told Tortoise that “sexual degradation, bondage, domination, sadism and masochism may not be to everyone’s taste, but between consenting adults, BDSM is lawful”.

The BBC has contacted Gaiman’s representatives for further comment.

A police report accusing Gaiman of a sexual assault was made in January 2023, but the investigation was eventually dropped.