Neil Gaiman Responds to Explosive Sexual Assault Allegation

Some booksellers were torn about whether they should continue to stock Gaiman’s books. Lauren Nopenz, manager and buyer at Curious Iguana, a bookstore in Frederick, Md., said the store will no longer carry Gaiman’s books on its shelves, but will order copies for customers who request them. “We don’t want anyone to walk into a store and see books that make them feel uncomfortable,” Nopenz said. Sarah Bagby, owner of Watermark Books in Wichita, Kan., said her store will continue to sell Gaiman’s works as long as there is customer demand, but may not heavily promote his books. “It’s hard, but we’ll carry it,” she said.

On social networks, numerous authors expressed their shock and dismay at the accusations. But some authors who were Gaiman’s friends held back. Married writers Ayelet Waldman and Michael Chabon, who hosted Gaiman’s 2011 wedding to musician and writer Amanda Palmer at their home, said they were still processing the reports.

“I’m just trying to absorb all of this and don’t know what to say,” Waldman wrote in an email.

Chabon responded similarly: “I just don’t have the energy to talk about it.”

Palmer, who divorced Gaiman several years ago, declined to comment through a spokesman, who said that “while Ms. Palmer is deeply disturbed by the allegations that Mr. Gaiman abused several women, her primary concern at this time is, and must remain, the well-being of her son and therefore, in order to protect his privacy, there is no comment on these allegations.”

After Gaiman released his statement, in which he noted that “I could and should have done a lot better” in my relationships with women, some of the women who came forward said they were disappointed but not surprised.

Stout shared a statement from several of them — several could not be reached — responding to Gaiman’s post. It said: “We are disappointed to see the same non-apology that women in this situation have seen so many times before.”