Shock sexual assault allegations against author Neil Gaiman could unravel as texts reveal ‘consensual’ bath time with nanny

Fantasy author Neil Gaiman has sensationally denied ever having sex with the family nanny in a bombshell new court filing that includes a tranche of messages between them in which she thanks him for the naked bath they had together and insists it was ‘consensual’.

Art history student Scarlett Pavlovich, 26, filed multiple lawsuits against Gaiman, 64, last month claiming she had been sexually assaulted and caused emotional distress, and demanded $7million in damages.

The suits were filed in Massachusetts, New York and Wisconsin where the British author lives. His ex-wife Amanda Palmer, 49, was also named as a party to the alleged abuse.

In the new documents, which were filed today in Wisconsin and obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Gaiman says he never had sex with Pavlovich but did engage in ‘consensual physical intimacy’ with her during a brief relationship in 2022 before describing her as a ‘fantasist’ who had ‘fabricated her tale of abuse’.

That included taking a nude bath with her in February of that year – an incident that made headlines after Pavlovich first aired her claims and accused him of having anal sex with her in front of his son during a July 2024 podcast called Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman.

In January, the New Zealand national gave another interview to New York Magazine, this time giving her full name and reiterating her claims before filing a civil lawsuit last month.

Fantasy author Neil Gaiman, 64, filed a new motion to dismiss his former nanny Scarlett Pavlovich’s case today in Wisconsin that feature WhatsApp messages from what he alleges was their brief relationship in 2022 

Pavlovich, 26, filed multiple lawsuits against Gaiman, 64, last month claiming she had been sexually assaulted and caused emotional distress, and demanded $7million in damages 

One of the texts, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, show the two discussing them taking a nude bath (bathtub pictured) in February of that year – an incident that made headlines after Pavlovich first aired her claims

Gaiman has denied her allegations and those of another seven women who came forward citing other incidences of sexual misconduct.

In a statement released via his website in January, he said: ‘I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.’

The 64-year-old went on to say that he had ‘obviously [been] careless with people’s hearts and feelings’ before adding ‘some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality.’

In the new filing, which is a motion to dismiss Pavlovich’s case, Gaiman notes that her claims had already been investigated and dismissed by police in New Zealand where both were living when the alleged assaults took place.

It includes 43 pages of WhatsApp messages, all sent between February and December 2022 – among them missives from Pavlovich where she appears to be desperate to see him and refers to him as her ‘master’ and herself as a ‘slut’.

One, sent in February 2022 and referring to the X-rated bath incident, sees her thank him for it in a message that reads: ‘Thank you for a lovely lovely night ~ wow x.’

The suits were filed in Massachusetts , New York and Wisconsin where the British author lives. His ex-wife Amanda Palmer (right), 49, was also named as a party to the alleged abuse 

Amanda Palmer has denied allegations of coercion after a former nanny claimed she had been raped by the singer’s husband, Neil Gaiman

Gaiman’s counter-filing also includes a declaration from the author in which he gives his own account of the naked bath incident – and claims the pair discussed consent during the nude soak 

In one text, Pavlovich says Gaiman ‘made me a bit of a greedy girl’

In a text from February 2022 and referring to the X-rated bath incident, sees her thank him for it in a message that reads: ‘Thank you for a lovely lovely night ~ wow x’

Gaiman’s counter-filing also includes a declaration from the author in which he gives his own account of the naked bath incident – and claims the pair discussed consent during the nude soak. 

He writes: ‘The garden had a bathtub with a hot water hose attached. After we ate, I invited Pavlovich to take a bath with me.

‘I did not pressure her to do so, and she could have declined my invitation. She agreed and we took off our clothes and got into the bath.

‘While in the bath, Pavlovich and I talked about consent. She told me that she preferred older partners and was open to having a sexual relationship with me. 

‘We cuddled and made out in the bath. We then returned to the house and engaged in other sexual activity — although we did not have sex.

‘At no point did Pavlovich say or do anything that led me to believe that she was not a willing participant in the activities.’

In March 2022 after Gaiman contacted her to express his ‘devastation’ after hearing rumors she had made a sex assault allegation against him, Pavlovich replied to deny it

Pavlovich replied to Gaiman about how angry she was with the circulating rumors that he had raped her 

In further messages sent two days later, Pavlovich describes the claims as ‘absolutely not true’, adding the intimacy between them was ‘consensual (and wonderful)!’

Other WhatsApp messages included in the filing see Pavlovich asking Gaiman for another naked bath, writing ‘Do you feel like a rain bath [smiley face]. Let me know if you want me to run a bath. I am consumed by thoughts of you… hope tomorrow, or some other time soon [heart on fire emoji]’. 

A third message, also sent in February 2022, reads: ‘If you happen to be alone later tomorrow night and are struck by an adventurous impetus, maybe I could come for a visit and then vanish in the morning for work like an apparition… I’m at your service. You’ve made me a bit of a greedy girl [smiley face]’.

Then, in March 2022 after Gaiman contacted her to express his ‘devastation’ after hearing rumors she had made a sex assault allegation against him, Pavlovich replied to deny it.

In further messages sent two days later, Pavlovich describes the claims as ‘absolutely not true’, adding the intimacy between them was ‘consensual (and wonderful)!’

She added: ‘It was consensual – how many times do I have to f***ing tell everyone.’

The messages are in stark contrast to the claims she later went on to make in the podcast and in New York Magazine, in which she claimed Gaiman anally raped her in front of his young son and repeatedly attacked her.

In the new filing, the British author strongly denies all the allegations, with his legal team writing: ‘Gaiman did not engage in the outrageous and tortious conduct Pavlovich alleges in her Complaint or in her myriad media interviews.

‘In no uncertain terms, Pavlovich’s accusations are false. The sexual scenarios she describes deliberately in graphic detail are invented.

‘Any sexual conduct that occurred was in all ways consensual. Law enforcement authorities in New Zealand thoroughly investigated the same claims Plaintiff makes here, found no merit, and declined to file any charges against Gaiman. 

‘There was no credible evidence of wrongdoing.’