Neil Gaiman allegations explained as Netfflix launches Sandman season 2 part 2
The streaming service has already confirmed that this will be the last we see of Dream (Tom Sturridge), in an announcement that came in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations levied against Gaiman, who co-developed the show from his comics.
The second season focuses on Dream and his epic final journey as he looks to rebuild his kingdom. But the show has been dogged by the accusations against Gaiman, which sent shockwaves through his fanbase earlier this year.
The first six episodes dropped on July 3, with the second five arriving tomorrow. Ahead of the season, Netflix released a teaser trailer for The Sandman season two, which did not mention Gaiman by name.
The showrunner, Allan Heinberg, notably also did not mention Gaiman or the allegations when he shared a statement about the show's conclusion.
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'The Sandman series has always been focused exclusively on Dream's story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season,' he told Netflix's Tudum.
A number of projects involving Gaiman across film and TV have either been paused or cancelled altogether – including Good Omens on Prime Video, which is now ending in a feature-length episode without Gaiman's involvement.
The allegations against Gaiman were first made in 2024, when a Tortoise Media podcast series detailed the claims of five women, two of whom accused Gaiman of sexual assault.
Then, further allegations were made against Gaiman in a report in New York Magazine in January, which spoke to eight women, four of whom were also involved in the Tortoise podcast.
The alleged behaviour included assault, abuse and coercion. Gaiman's accusers are adults, all of whom are younger than the 64-year-old author, including one who is nearly 40 years his junior.
One of these women, Scarlett Pavlovich, said she was 22 when she first met Gaiman's ex-wife and punk cabaret musician Amanda Palmer in New Zealand and started to babysit the couple's child.
It was during this time that she claims Gaiman repeatedly assaulted her, including one instance in which she claims he did so while his son was in the room.
Pavlovich has since filed a civil lawsuit in Massachusetts against Gaiman and his estranged wife, Palmer, accusing Gaiman of repeatedly sexually assaulting her while she was working as the couple's nanny.
The lawsuit reportedly accuses Gaiman of rape, coercion and human trafficking. Palmer is accused of 'procuring and presenting' her to Gaiman 'for such abuse', according to The Guardian.
She is seeking at least seven million dollars (£5.6 million) in damages.
Gaiman has strenuously denied the allegations. 'I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,' he wrote in a statement shared on his website in January.
'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,' the statement continued.
'I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made. I'm not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can't accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn't do.'
After the New York magazine article, a representative for Palmer said she was 'profoundly disturbed' by the allegations.
The musician wrote on social media: 'As there are ongoing custody and divorce proceedings, I am not able to offer public comment. Please understand that I am first and foremost a parent. I ask for privacy at this time.'
When the show's executive producer, David Goyer, spoke about the second season, he emphasised he personally 'never glimpsed any of this', referring to the allegations.
He told Variety: 'When the accusations first came out, I think we were three weeks from finishing filming Season 2 — so we were very, very far down the path.'
He went on to say that Gaiman 'wasn't as involved in season two as he was in season one'.
He continued: 'Obviously, it's complicated. I have tremendous respect for women that come forward in those situations. It's really concerning, but I know that Netflix, at the time, felt, 'God, we spent two years making this thing. There's all these actors and writers and directors involved that, if we didn't air it, wouldn't be fully compensated for it.'
'So we just decided, we're going to let this work speak for itself. But I'd be crazy to say it wasn't weird.'
The first season of The Sandman arrived in 2022, but it has taken years to get the second instalment onto the streaming platform.
The announcement that the second season would be The Sandman's last came in January, shortly after the sexual misconduct allegations were levied against Gaiman.
However, Variety reported that the Netflix powers that be had decided the second season would be the last prior to filming in 2023 – before the accusations in the Tortoise Media podcast in 2024.
This was something executive producer Goyer also reiterated to the publication, saying the ending was planned over two years ago now.
'We had a lot of discussions, Allan [Heinberg, showrunner] and I, with Netflix. And obviously we love the books, but one of the concerns about some of the story arcs is that Dream isn't in them very much,' he said.
'And the other thing was, even though the original comic book run was 75 issues, we just ended up burning through story faster than we thought we would.' More Trending
'When we talked through it, we felt, let's make a slightly bigger season 2 and take it through to the end. There's always the possibility that we could do some of the other spinoff material, if you will,' Goyer said.
Metro contacted Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer's representatives for further comment.
This article was originally published on July 2.
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The Sandman season 2 part two is available to stream on Netflix from July 24.
Rape Crisis England & Wales is a feminist charity working to end rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse – and all other forms of sexual violence.
Whether it happened recently, or a long time ago; whether you know without a doubt that you experienced sexual violence, or aren't quite sure; whether it happened to you, or someone you know; Rape Crisis England & Wales will always believe you and listen to you, and they can offer you information and support.
You can find out more about Rape Crisis England & Wales here; and if you're aged 16 or over, you can call the charity's 24/7 support line for free on 0808 500 2222.
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And dear old Lisa Nandy, in my opinion, is part of this government. Keir Starmer is her boss and she's performing her role.' We are in a delicate place. When broadcasters can no longer make programmes that hold truth to power, 'that's just a little bit of our freedom of speech gone', Peter Kosminsky argues. And while future governments might be relieved about that, 'our democracy is the worse for it'. Perhaps a streamers levy is not the answer, but the government does not seem to be coming up with any solutions of its own. If it does not intervene, we will 'end up with a situation where the editorial decisions about everything we watch here in the UK on our television, are made half a world away in California,' Kosminsky warns. 'I regret that.' Hannah's full conversation with Peter Kosminsky is available as a New Statesman podcast. [Further reading: The BBC is afraid] Related
