Is Neil Gaiman a Scientologist? What we know amid report accusing author of assault against multiple women

In a new report in Vulture, more women have come forward with sexual assault allegations against celebrated author Neil Gaiman. The report alleged Gaiman allegedly abused his former babysitter hired by his ex-wife Amanda Palmer to look after his youngest child.

The author is also the father of three older children that he shared with his first wife Mary McGrath. She was described as “a private midwestern Scientologist."

The report also delved into the religious beliefs of his Jewish parents, David and Sheila, who left their jobs as a business executive and a pharmacist to join the Church of Scientology in 1965 when Neil Gaiman was five years old.

The report has again turned the spotlight on Scientology, which was investigated for s*x trafficking and crimes against children. Furthermore, last year, two Hollywood stars and members, Danny Masterson and Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis, were accused of abuse. Masterson was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

In light of recent allegations against Gaiman, social media users began conflating Scientology with abuse.

Reacting to the allegations against Gaiman, a social media user said:

“Gaiman was raised as a Scientologist. Yeah, that tracks.”

Another noted, “It tracks that Neil Gaiman comes from a Scientologist family.”

Several social media users made similar observations, stating Neil Gaiman was a Scientologist. However, it should be noted Gaiman has repeatedly stated while his parents, older sisters, and first wife are members of the church of Scientology, he’s no longer a member of the organization.

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Here’s what Neil Gaiman has said about his link to Scientology.

The Vulture report alleged when Neil Gaiman's ex-wife Amanda Palmer urged him to open up about his childhood in Scientology, "he would curl up on the bed into a fetal position and cry."

According to the late Mike Rinder’s blog, Neil Gaiman’s connection to Scientology and apparent departure first emerged in the 2002 court case. Gaiman had filed a lawsuit seeking joint ownership of copyrights for characters he developed for Todd McFarlane's Spawn comic book series. During the case, Gaiman was reportedly asked:

“Are you still a member of the Church of Scientology?” he replied “I don’t consider myself as such”.

Gaiman further stated:

“I worked for a 3-year period after getting out of school as a ‘Counsellor’ for the Church of Scientology.”

However, the Variety report said Gaiman worked as an auditor in the Church of Scientology. Mike Rinder’s blog citing renowned Journalist and author on Scientology Tony Ortega said that Gaiman “became a Class VIII auditor, and even ran the Birmingham “org” as its ED, executive director.”

Gaiman reportedly worked for Scientology until the late nineties and left in the early 2000s. In a 2013 Guardian interview, Gaiman addressed Scientology rumors circulating online, stating:

People online are "saying I'm a secret Scientologist and I've donated $29m, and Amanda and I are both secret Scientologists and we were ordered to marry by the church."

Gaiman denied his connection to the church, stating he only believed "in the power of stories."

However, in the blog, Rinder alleged despite Gaiman denying any existing ties with Scientology, his production company "The Blank Corporation" is allegedly still registered to a Scientologist’s P.O Box in Wisconsin, where his first wife Mary McGrath allegedly still works for the Church of Scientology.

However, the website states that The Blank Corporation, which was involved in adaptations of Sandman and Good Omens in partnership with Netflix and Amazon, was founded in 2016 with its Vice President and former P.A. Cat Mihos.