Marilyn Manson‘s (aka Brian Warner) relaunch of his career this year may be in for some choppy waters. The 55-year-old shock rocker found his life as an artist/entertainer put on hold in February of 2021 after his ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused him of abusing her amid their relationship that took place amid 2007 to 2010.
Wood‘s allegations were followed by similar claims of sexual abuse/misconduct being leveled against Manson by over a dozen women. It was also around February of 2021 that the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department confirmed they had opened an investigation into Manson regarding various claims of domestic violence for incidents alleged to have occurred between 2009 to 2011.
This wasn’t the first time a rape/assault allegation made against Manson had been investigated by the Los Angeles authorities in somewhat recent years, as a 2018 sexual assault allegation for an incident alleged to have taken place in 2011 was also brought to the attention of the police. However, the Los Angeles District Attorney declined to charge him after not being able to establish enough evidence.
While the investigation launched against Manson in early 2021 also brought no charges against him thus far, it seems that may possibly change. Per this announcement made today, October 09th, by Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, new evidence against Manson is under review by the office’s Sex Crimes Division.
That statement reads:
“The LADA’s Sex Crimes Division is currently reviewing a case involving Brian Warner, aka Marilyn Manson
Experienced prosecutors from our office’s Sex Crimes Division are carefully reviewing new leads and additional evidence that continue to come to our attention from the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s investigation. New evidence has emerged within the last few weeks, adding to an already extensive case file presented to our office by the LASD.
It is our office’s responsibility to ensure that we have a complete picture of the admissible evidence available before making a filing decision. Senior staff members have met with victims, and our prosecutors continue to remain in contact with the victims and their representatives throughout this process. We are committed to making sure they are treated with dignity and respect.
I have received requests from victims to meet personally to discuss the case, however, as the case is being investigated it would be inappropriate for me, as District Attorney, to meet with victims during this time. We anticipate making a filing decision soon and will provide an update when that time comes. At that time, I look forward to meeting with the victims to discuss how my office can continue to support them.”
Upon the initial wave of allegations being made public against Manson in early 2021, he was dropped by his longtime manager Tony Ciulla, his record label Loma Vista Recordings and his talent agency CAA. He was also removed from his roles in the TV series ‘American Gods‘ and ‘Creepshow‘.
While Manson publicly denied any wrongdoing on his part, the allegations made against him resulted in several civil lawsuits. An overview of the key points of those legal proceedings include:
- Manson reaching a settlement with Esmé Bianco in January of 2023 after the latter filed suit against him for sexual assault, etc.
- Ashley Morgan Smithline recanting and dismissing her sexual assault lawsuit against Manson in February of 2023
- Manson reaching a settlement in September of 2023 with a woman who accused him of sexual assault
- A tentative June 2025 trial date set for a sexual assault lawsuit filed against Manson by his ex-personal assistant Ashley Walters
- Bianca Allaine Kyne filing suit against Manson over claims she was sexually assaulted by him in the mid to late 1990s
Outside of charges of a sexual nature, Manson accepted a plea deal in September of 2023 in regards to a 2019 concert spitting incident. He pled no contest to a misdemeanor simple assault charge in relation to spitting on a videographer who was working a live concert he performed at. He was fined $1,400 and sentenced to 20 hours of community service. While initially dismissed, a separate civil lawsuit over that incident filed by the videographer was revived in November of last year.
Outside of proclaiming his innocence in regards to the sexual assault allegations, Manson filed a defamation suit against Wood and her associate Ilma Gore back in March of 2022. In his initial complaint, he alleged the pair had served as ringleaders in coaching numerous women to come forward against him with claims of sexual abuse. He further alleged that the pair had gone so far as to impersonate an FBI officer to add credence to their claims against him.
Since filing that suit, a number of Manson‘s claims in the defamation suit have been struck down in court, with Manson having in turn been ordered to pay $496,364 of Wood‘s legal fees. This past August saw Manson appeal some of those claims that were previously dismissed from his defamation suit.
This past August also saw Manson resurrect his music career, performing his first live show since 2019. He has also since issued his first new music since 2020 in the form of several singles from his comeback album “One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1“, which Nuclear Blast have lined up for a November 22nd release date.
