Neil Gaiman "cancelled"?

[Rolfe]

Totally agree.

What I wasn't aware of, until comparatively recently, was that he'd been brought up by parents who were high up in Scientology, and was actively involved himself from a young age. That alone might account for some of his behaviour, all the more so when that Vulture article clearly suggests that that process involved him being mentally and physically abused as a child and he has yet to properly deal with the consequences. That doesn't excuse his actions, but may partially explain them.

I didn't know about the Scientology part either, till now. The minute I read "East Grinstead" I realised what the score was. I have a friend who was a GP in East Grinstead for many years and she said that while the Scientologists didn't present to a doctor for normal illnesses like anyone else, she was constantly in touch with them because of child safeguarding concerns.

 

[angrysoba]

I didn't know about the Scientology part either, till now. The minute I read "East Grinstead" I realised what the score was. I have a friend who was a GP in East Grinstead for many years and she said that while the Scientologists didn't present to a doctor for normal illnesses like anyone else, she was constantly in touch with them because of child safeguarding concerns.

Wait, what? I used to live not far from East Grinstead. I don't remember being aware of it being a hot-bed of Scientology...

Hmmm... then again, maybe I completely forgot about it.

 

[Rolfe]

True story. I had a friend staying with me after she separated from her husband. I saw strange post arriving for her, and other odd things, that suggested she was involved with Scientology. She spoke several times about going over to East Grinstead. (This was when I lived in Sussex.) I asked another friend in all innocence, "Is there any connection between East Grinstead and Scientology?" The answer I got back was, "Is there any connection between Salt Lake City and Mormonism?"

 

[Rolfe]

I used to think he was a good writer! What the actual?



From here.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879629766929883307

 

[porch]

I used to think he was a good writer! What the actual?

View attachment 58492

From here.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879629766929883307

His original script was probably a brilliant and moving fantasy story whose characters I feel like I can relate to, but then he passed it to his editors that are lawyers, so . . .

 

[arthwollipot]

 

[theprestige]

"Breaking the silence" like he's a victim of sexual abuse finally coming forward to testify.

 

[angrysoba]

I used to think he was a good writer! What the actual?

View attachment 58492

From here.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879629766929883307

Never heard of DARVO before, but yes, I understand it from reading that.

 

[angrysoba]

True story. I had a friend staying with me after she separated from her husband. I saw strange post arriving for her, and other odd things, that suggested she was involved with Scientology. She spoke several times about going over to East Grinstead. (This was when I lived in Sussex.) I asked another friend in all innocence, "Is there any connection between East Grinstead and Scientology?" The answer I got back was, "Is there any connection between Salt Lake City and Mormonism?"

Hmmm... interesting. I grew up in a small village, beside the Ashdown Forest, which had a Rudolph Steiner home. I had no idea what went on in there but for some reason I had always assumed it was a nice place where people looked after the mentally handicapped.
That said, I do remember a friend of mine telling me there was a Mormon temple in East Grinstead. Turns out to be true...

England’s sleepy ‘Scientology town’

The sleepy Sussex market town of East Grinstead has gained a reputation in recent decades as a hotbed for offbeat religious activity.

www.bbc.com

 

[Pixel42]

Over the last few years I've reluctantly come to the conclusion that the percentage of men who will happily abuse and take advantage of women and girls, given only the opportunity and a good chance of getting away with it, is far higher than I had previously believed. Just look at the Pelicot case: that scumbag had no difficulty finding over 70 men living within a 30 mile radius of his home who were happy to rape his unconscious wife whilst he watched and filmed them doing it.

Men who are rich and/or famous are just more likely to have both the opportunity and the good chance of getting away with it. Donald Trump even bragged about it.

 

[zooterkin]

As I mentioned, several of Gaiman's books resonated with me, and I've read Good Omens more times than any other book, and I'm still working out what I feel about the whole thing regarding his work. (Obviously the man himself has turned out to be despicable.)

Spare a thought for those who made an even bigger investment by having images from his work, or even of the man himself, tattooed on their skin.

You Have a Neil Gaiman Tattoo. Now What?

Fans of bestselling author Neil Gaiman are wondering what to do about tattoos inspired by the author's work now that he faces sexual abuse allegations.

www.rollingstone.com

As one reader with a tattoo inspired by Gaiman’s dark fantasy novella Coraline put it on X, formerly Twitter: “The continuous neil gaiman news is devastating to me and genuinely makes me want to cut my skin off. i got this tattoo months and months before his allegations and as a lesbian sexual assault victim having something he created on me makes me ill. why are people so evil???” The post includes a photo of the large ink work, which covers their entire forearm. In a 2023 post on the platform, another fan, showing off an arm tat of a character from Gaiman’s comic The Sandman, wrote, “First thing I did when I got it was text my friend ‘Neil Gaiman better not ever turn out to be a creep,’ lol” — as if to predict the very fallout the writer’s most devoted readers are now facing.

 

[Darat]

Over the last few years I've reluctantly come to the conclusion that the percentage of men who will happily abuse and take advantage of women and girls, given only the opportunity and a good chance of getting away with it, is far higher than I had previously believed. Just look at the Pelicot case: that scumbag had no difficulty finding over 70 men living within a 30 mile radius of his home who were happy to rape his unconscious wife whilst he watched and filmed them doing it.

Men who are rich and/or famous are just more likely to have both the opportunity and the good chance of getting away with it. Donald Trump even bragged about it.

Sadly I have to pretty much agree with you. I've read too many of the countless inquiry and report conclusions to come to any other conclusion, but I would modify something, and that of instead of " women and girls," I'd just say "people".

 

[Rolfe]

Sigh.

 

[Puppycow]

A lawsuit has been filed. Details:
Neil Gaiman Hit With Rape & Human Trafficking Suits After Months Of Allegations; Estranged Spouse Amanda Palmer Also Named In Multi-State Filings

 

[Rolfe]

I'm not at all sure how I feel about the cancellation and suppression of art on the grounds that the artist is a scumbag.

 

[malbui]

I'm not at all sure how I feel about the cancellation and suppression of art on the grounds that the artist is a scumbag.

Separating the art and the artist is an age-old conundrum. Personally I have yet to resolve it although I find time is a smoothing agent… I can appreciate say 17th century artwork even if the artist was a scumbag. More recent stuff I cannot accept, which is why for example I will have nothing to do with the work of Polanski or any of his supporters.

 

[Olmstead]

I'm not at all sure how I feel about the cancellation and suppression of art on the grounds that the artist is a scumbag.

Thread title notwithstanding, no one is actually cancelling or supressing Gaiman's art. Some adaptations got cancelled, but then, adaptations get cancelled or are never even considered for far more artistically bankrupt reasons -- like money.

 

[Rolfe]

That's a fair point. Both points, actually.

 

[zooterkin]

Thread title notwithstanding, no one is actually cancelling or supressing Gaiman's art. Some adaptations got cancelled, but then, adaptations get cancelled or are never even considered for far more artistically bankrupt reasons -- like money.

Good Omens has been changed from a complete third series to a one-off 90 minute conclusion, and Gaiman will not be involved in production, beyond the writing he had already contributed.

All the proceeds from a kickstarter to produce a comic book version of Good Omens are now going to the Pratchett Foundation, none to Gaiman.

Terry Pratchett Estate Removes Neil Gaiman From Good Omens Kickstarter

Terry Pratchett Estate has removed any payment to Neil Gaiman from the Good Omens Kickstarter, as well as offering refunds.

bleedingcool.com

 

[Olmstead]

Good Omens has been changed from a complete third series to a one-off 90 minute conclusion, and Gaiman will not be involved in production, beyond the writing he had already contributed.

All the proceeds from a kickstarter to produce a comic book version of Good Omens are now going to the Pratchett Foundation, none to Gaiman.

Terry Pratchett Estate Removes Neil Gaiman From Good Omens Kickstarter

Terry Pratchett Estate has removed any payment to Neil Gaiman from the Good Omens Kickstarter, as well as offering refunds.

bleedingcool.com

Fair enough, but this is a similar problem. There are too many moving parts, too many people involved, too much money. And it isn't even solely his "baby". Collaborations are a tricky thing.

He can still write, he can still publish. He could probably play producer again if he really wanted to. Even now, he still has far better opportunities for artistic expression than 99% of writers out there.