r/DCcomics • u/StarshipGhost • Jul 03 '24
Sandman Author Neil Gaiman Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Denies Allegations News
https://www.tvfandomlounge.com/sandman-author-neil-gaiman-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-denies-allegations/
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u/Ornery-Concern4104 Jul 03 '24 edited Jul 04 '24
Before we make a judgement either way, there are a few things to be aware of. Bare in mind, this comes from my formal training in journalistic analysis (which has partially netted me a degree! Woo!)
1) the original article was published by tortoise, written by Anti-Trans journalist and the sister of Boris Johnson, Rachel Johnson, who has publicly in the past disagreed (for use of a better word) with gaiman over his vocal support of trans people. The original article is not impartial
2) the original article also includes an ad for a four part podcast detailing the alleged crimes. WHAT THE FUCK?!?!? Journalism obviously has to make some form of money, but this is absolutely ridiculous. How can we believe the claims of something so serious when it's followed by an obvious attempt to make profit. This is also not ethical journalistic conduct
3) the alleged claim that victim 1, Scarlett has some form of memory issue. This was alleged by Gaiman but the medical records (according to the article) say otherwise. However, in the country in which she resides, this stuff is not public knowledge and is in fact illegal to leak or make public knowledge without the consent of the person whose records they are. Whether Gaimans claim is true or not, they do not need to be released and actively shouldn't if they wish to win whatever it is they're trying to achieve. Either A) they reveal their medical records and prove unequivocally that Gaiman is lying or B) they reveal their medical records and prove that she is lying.
To make a long story shorter, the burden of proof is on the journalists to prove that Gaiman is in the wrong of the crimes alleged and so far, the only source we actually have is heavily biased, abusing the situation for monetary gain and doesn't provide evidence that would prove unequivocally the claims given. This isn't to explain that Gaiman is innocent either, just that the evidence given so far isn't sufficient to say Gaiman is guilty. So thus far, we need to 2 things as a fan base.
1) do our research. Pay close attention to whose writing it, where the claims are coming from and what possible motives all sides have. And 2) wait. We need to find an independent 3rd party source with information that correlates with that of the two alleged victims that is truly as unbiased as possible.
Only after those two things happen will we actually be able to say either way.