The Cult of Neil Gaiman

Jan 28, 2025

Dive into the chilling world of fandom, where admiration blurs into manipulation. Explore the disturbing dynamics of love bombing and the darker sides of idol worship surrounding Neil Gaiman. Hear survivor stories that reveal the unsettling impact of a charismatic leader. Discuss the troubling intersection of celebrity culture and abuse. Plus, unravel the complicated relationship between Gaiman and Amanda Palmer and how their intertwined lives echo cult-like behavior. This captivating tale sheds light on the dangers of adoration in literature.

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ANECDOTE

Love Bombing and Ritual Abuse

Brenda met Gaiman at a book signing, where he gave her focused attention.
Later, during a sexual encounter, his demeanor changed, becoming ritualistic and demanding.

INSIGHT

Palmer's Role

Amanda Palmer's online presence and "anti-establishment" art attracted vulnerable fans.
Her relationship with Gaiman further enabled his alleged abuse.

ANECDOTE

Pavlovich's Story

Scarlett Pavlovich, a fan of Palmer, met her and was later asked to babysit Gaiman's child.
This led to an assault and manipulation into becoming a live-in nanny, exploiting Pavlovich's vulnerability.

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Very rarely does a culty news topic compel us to the mic as urgently as this week’s subject, a nerdy literature fandom turned…collective traumatic experience? In the wake of a bombshell Vulture exposé that straight-up reads like a Sounds Like A Cult script, Reese and Amanda are unpacking the nightmarish tale of multi-bestselling-author-turned-sex-abuser-slash-cult-leader, Neil Gaiman. You know this guy’s work, even if you don’t recognize his name, and the cult he created has so many entry points, if you are a lover of Coraline, American Gods, The Dresden Dolls, or a variety of viral Tumblr DM reply screenshots from @neil-gaiman, there’s a chance you’ve skirted the edge of a few of them. We, along with the rest of the online book-nerd world, were flabbergasted by the release of Lila Shapiro’s article “There is No Safe Word” revealing that underneath Gaiman’s seemingly wholesome dynamic with his doting fans was a campaign of lovebombing, sexual assault, and bizarre rituals, involving the author’s ex-wife Amanda Palmer and a history with the freaking church of Scientology. It’s truly a heartbreaking, stranger-than-fiction story. Join Amanda and Reese, as they analyze it chapter by chapter.

P.S. While we for the most part try to keep things fairly lighthearted here at SLAC, this week’s episode is obviously covering a genuinely dangerous individual, and therefore some very sensitive topics. This is a content warning to maybe skip this week’s episode if the following are especially uncomfortable territory for you: sexual assault, emotional and verbal abuse, suicidal ideation, emotional abuse, abuse against LGBTQ+ individuals

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