I haven't seen any discussion here about Gaiman, and maybe it's because we don't really want to go down that road with another celebrated person. I don't know even know what to say. I've admired his writing, my brief interaction with him at a con was positive (signed Coraline on-camera for a charity auction with which I was involved), I'm a huge fan of The Sandman, and I was looking forward to Season Two of the adaptation. A year ago it sounded like sleaziness and I didn't look too closely. With these developed allegations, which certainly sound credible, we're staring into the possibility of significant sex offenses. It looks bad even should it turn out some of the allegations have been distorted or exaggerated. Even Amanda Palmer comes off as a tad suspect, though again, I don't know the truth-- and I had not followed just how rough their divorced proceedings had been. I generally ignore that sort of celebrity news.
If you haven't gone down the rabbit hole opened up for a wider audience by the Vulture article, I caution you, it's a very rough ride.
(Mind you, it's worse when someone with actual political power does horrible things and gets a pass, but still).
Anyone?
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The New York Times is one of the publications I pay to read online. I think I once tried to read a Vulture article and was blocked by a paywall. I have read the Times article. I found only two things that were new to me. One was a nasty bit about licking. The other was a statement that the New Zealand allegations had been investigated by their police and no charges were filed.
What bothers me most is that sexual consent is not always clear to both parties. Unless it is life-threatening or they are unconscious, the unwilling person (woman or man) should clearly say “no, stop,” repeatedly. I understand and appreciate the Me Too movement. I understand that the victim can be reluctant to (sometimes ever) go to the police. I also understand that the likelihood of truth increases when more and more allegations come in from a growing number of people (think Bill Cosby and Number 47).
If someone is charged with a crime against society, they have their day in court before their freedom can be taken away. If a prominent person is charged in “the media” with embezzlement without criminal charges, this can still be proven or disproven. When sexual offenses, without immediate reporting, have no remaining evidence are reported in “the media,” we’re looking at a coin toss to save or destroy someone’s life’s work.
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