Marilyn Manson drops defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood

Marilyn Manson has dropped a defamation lawsuit he filed against Evan Rachel Wood.

In 2022, the controversial rocker – real name Brian Warner – took legal action against the actor, who publicly accused Manson, her former partner, of abuse – claiming that he started grooming her when she was a teenager and “horrifically abused me for years”.

Warner denied all allegations and claimed in a lawsuit that Wood “recruited, coordinated, and pressured” women to make false statements about the musician. Wood responded at the time that she was “not scared” of Manson’s defamation lawsuit, adding that “this is part of the retaliation that keeps survivors quiet”. The case’s key claims were dismissed in May of last year.

In August, Warner claimed in renewed litigation against Wood that she had forged an FBI letter from a real agent as a way to smear his image.

Yesterday, Rolling Stone reported that Warner has dropped the lawsuit and any related appeal. According to legal documents, Warner has agreed to pay Wood nearly US$327,000 in attorneys’ fees.

In a statement per Rolling Stone, a representative for Wood called Warner’s lawsuit “a publicity stunt” done to “undermine the credibility of his many accusers and revive his faltering career.”

“But his attempt to silence and intimidate Ms. Wood failed,” Wood’s representative continued. “As the trial court correctly found, Warner’s claims were meritless. Warner’s decision to finally abandon his lawsuit and pay Ms. Wood her full fee award of almost $327,000 only confirms as much.”

Last month (October 9), it was revealed by Los Angeles prosecutors that the sexual abuse case against Warner has “new leads and additional evidence” to pursue.

“Senior staff members have met with victims, and our prosecutors continue to remain in contact with the victims and their representatives throughout this process,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a press statement.

Prior to the statement, Game Of Thrones star Esme Bianco hit out at Gascon over what she described as the “mishandled” rape allegations against Warner.

She said the last four years of waiting for the prosecutor to make a decision over the allegations was “absolute agony”, adding that she has had to “hound” the District Attorney’s office for updates.

In 2021, Bianco went public with her accusations against Warner, claiming that the singer’s alleged abuse (occurring between 2009 and 2011) had made her “[feel] like a prisoner”. Months later, the actress formally filed a lawsuit against both Warner and his business, Marilyn Manson Records, Inc.

The lawsuit alleged sexual assault, physical abuse and human trafficking. Warner has denied all allegations, calling the claims “horrible distortions of reality”.

In January 2023, the lawsuit was dropped with both parties reaching a settlement out of court. The exact terms of the agreement are unknown.

However, around the same time her lawsuit was filed, Los Angeles police opened a criminal investigation into the claims made by several women, including Bianco and actor Evan Rachel Wood (Warner’s former partner), who have accused Warner of sexual abuse, grooming and manipulation. In September 2022, the case was submitted to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.