Neil Gaiman sues accuser for $500,000

The disgraced author claims his accuser, Caroline Wallner, broke her NDA.

By Emma Keates  |  April 21, 2025 | 12:09pm
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America East
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Neil Gaiman sues accuser for $500,000
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Neil Gaiman has taken legal action against Caroline Wallner, one of the women who accused him of sexual misconduct in a bombshell Vulture report from February. The outlet now reports that the disgraced author is seeking more than $500,000 from Wallner for allegedly breaching her NDA by speaking out.

Wallner and her now ex-husband moved onto Gaiman’s property in 2014, but the abuse didn’t begin until their marriage fell apart in 2018, per the original report. Wallner was left behind with no income and three kids to take care of, which is when she says Gaiman began pressuring her for sex in exchange for staying on the property. “‘I like our trade,'” he reportedly told her. “‘You take care of me, and I’ll take care of you.'” Wallner also made the disturbing allegation that the author once initiated sex while his four-year-old slept between them. 

Gaiman’s representatives originally claimed to Vulture that Wallner had initiated the sexual encounters and denied that anything had happened in the presence of his son. In 2021, however, Gaiman reportedly paid Wallner $275,000 to sign an NDA barring her from suing him or telling anyone about her experience. Now, the author has filed a demand for arbitration accusing Wallner of violating the confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions of the agreement by speaking to Vulture and other outlets. According to Vulture, Gaiman is seeking repayment of their full settlement amount, plus attorney’s fees and an additional $50,000 for each interview Wallner has given. Wallner’s ex-husband, who also signed the NDA, is reportedly also named in Gaiman’s claim.

Wallner actually filed a similar claim for arbitration against Gaiman last winter. In her filing, Wallner accused Gaiman of violating his end of the NDA by retaining text messages, photos, and videos from the time period in question; the terms of the NDA reportedly required that both Gaiman and Wallner destroy any such materials after signing. Both parties’ claims will be addressed in the coming months through arbitration, as dictated by their original agreement. 

Representatives for Gaiman once again denied Wallner’s allegations. “Caroline Wallner’s purported claims are completely meritless,” a spokesperson shared in a statement to Variety. “We have no doubt that we will prevail in arbitration—and that Ms. Wallner’s actions will result in her having to pay Neil’s legal fees.” 

On the other hand, Wallner’s attorney, Vincent White, was surprised Gaiman filed his claim at all. White specializes in sexual harassment cases and told the outlet that in his experience, men rarely sue women for violating NDAs because it looks so bad. If an alleged abuser tries to silence someone for speaking out about “really heinous acts… everyone thinks, Oh, the allegation must be true,” he said. “I would think he may have come to the conclusion he has nothing left to lose.”

 
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