Neil Gaiman’s ex-partner Amanda Palmer has publicly acknowledged the allegations of sexual misconduct made against the author for the first time.

Posting on her Instagram account, the American singer wrote: “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.” Palmer and Gaiman, who married in 2011, and have one child together, are currently in the process of getting divorced.

NME also reported that, in reply to its request for comment after the most recent allegations against the author of The Sandman in New York Magazine, a representative for Palmer said that she is “profoundly disturbed” by the allegations, but that “at this time her primary concern is, and must remain, the wellbeing of her son and therefore, to guard his privacy, she has no comment on these allegations.”

In July, a podcast investigation by Tortoise media reported sexual assault allegations made against Gaiman by two women. Gaiman denied them at the time, saying that all of his sexual relationships were consensual.

Further allegations were made after the podcast was released, including by a woman who had worked as Gaiman’s caretaker in upstate New York who said that the author had put pressure on her to have sex with him in return for letting her live at his property, then made her sign a non-disclosure agreement in return for a $275,000 payment. Again, Gaiman’s position was that his relationship with her had been consensual.

For New York Magazine’s report on Monday, journalist Lila Shapiro interviewed eight women, six on the record, including the four women who had participated in the Tortoise podcast series. The accusations made by these women included claims of sexual assault, sexual misconduct and coercion.

On Tuesday, Gaiman published a statement on his website, denying all allegations against him, writing: “I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”

Since the allegations were first reported by Tortoise, two screen adaptations of Gaiman’s works have been cancelled or had their production paused, including Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives and a Disney adaptation of The Graveyard Book, which was in development. Meanwhile, the third and final season of the Amazon drama Good Omens will now be a feature length episode rather than a full season. None of the streaming services has confirmed that these decisions were made because of the allegations, but Deadline reported that Gaiman had stepped back from his involvement in Good Omens due to the allegations. None of the UK publishers of Gaiman’s books have yet made statements or responded to the Guardian’s requests for comment.