celebrity

The allegations against Marilyn Manson keep getting worse.

This post deals with domestic violence and suicide and might be triggering for some readers.

It all started with an Instagram post by actress Evan Rachel Wood on February 1, 2021.

"The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson," she wrote. 

"He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years. I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission. 

"I am done living in fear of retaliation, slander or blackmail. I am here to expose this dangerous man and call out the many industries that have enabled him, before he ruins more lives. 

"I stand with the many victims who will no longer stay silent."

ADVERTISEMENT

Four more women followed suit over the course of that Monday, posting lengthy and detailed statements to their Instagrams detailing horrific abuse. 

All of the women say they suffer from PTSD and two of the women - including Wood - detail suicide attempts as a result of being physically and psychologically assaulted.

Manson's former full-time personal assistant Ashley Walters wrote, "He was very skilled at gaslighting his inner circle. I'd witness him inflict his psychological abuse on everyone he employed, everyone he dated. He would dictate the perimeters of our reality. Horrifying, deranged behaviour and insane scenarios became normalised. He was extremely interested in mind control, torture tactics and spy devices to gather information for blackmailing and manipulation."

"I was emotionally abused, terrorised and scarred. I was locked in rooms when I was ‘bad’, sometimes forced to listen to him entertaining other women," wrote model Sarah McNeilly.

"I was verbally berated for hours upon hours. Blamed for everything under the sun in order to make me feel worthless. I believe he gets off on ruining people's lives. I stand in support of all that have and all who will come forward. I want to see Brian held accountable for his evil," she added.

ADVERTISEMENT

An artist who spoke of meeting Manson when she was 22, and he was in his late 40s spoke of being charmed by his love and affection. She described their relationship as going from "0 to 100" with him telling her he loved her after two weeks and asking her to join his tour of Europe. 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I do not have fond memories of this tour though as things went downhill quickly. He would tie me up for the first of many times and rape me. I sobbed on the floor in the hotel and when I looked at him, he was smiling," she shared.

Model and actor Ashley Lindsay Morgan says during her time with Manson she was "given rules" and "things turned dark very quickly."

"There was abuse, sexual violence, physical violence and coercion. I still feel the effects every day. I have night terrors, PTSD, anxiety and mostly crippling OCD. I try to wash constantly to get him off me," she wrote.

The damning statements made front page news around the world, and Manson has remained in the headlines ever since as more and more allegations come to light, and a history of violent, abusive and degrading behaviour is unpacked by a world who are being faced with the reality that we let him get away with it. 

"I was his property." Manson accusers sue.

On May 18, 2021, Manson's former assistant Ashley Walters sued the singer for sexual assault, battery, and harassment.

Her suit, filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, includes allegations that Manson made her work for 48 hours straight and told his friends they could kiss and grope her, per The Cut

Walters alleges Manson had violent outbursts, which included throwing dishes, pushing her against a wall and threats. At one point, he emailed her images of actress Esme Bianco's cut back with the subject line 'see what happens?', the suit claims.

ADVERTISEMENT

Walters said Manson would often introduce her to influential people and tell them they could 'have her'.

"It made me feel like I was his property," she told The Cut. "It just made me feel like a piece of meat."

Manson is also facing a lawsuit from former girlfriend and Game of Thrones actress Bianco.

In late April 2021, a suit was filed in the Federal Court in Los Angeles alleging "on multiple instances Warner physically, sexually, psychologically, and emotionally abused Bianco".

In the 10-page document filed by her lawyer Jay D. Ellwanger, obtained by Deadline, he said that Bianco was "well aware of the violence Mr. Warner could dole out if she fought back, having been on the receiving end of his temper many times."

"He also supplied drugs to Ms. Bianco and deprived her of sleep and food in order to weaken her physically and mentally and decrease her ability to refuse him," he wrote. "Mr. Warner committed sexual acts with Ms. Bianco when she was unconscious or otherwise unable to consent."

The suit also alleges Bianco was forced to perform "unpaid labour" and that his ex-manager, Tony Ciulla, violated human trafficking laws because they flew her from the United Kingdom to Los Angeles in 2007 and 2011 with promises of work in an unmade film. 

Through his lawyer, Manson said he would "vigorously contest these allegations in court" and was confident of winning.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Horrible distortions of reality." Manson dropped by his record label.

Manson released a statement on his own Instagram as the allegations against him made worldwide news in early February 2021.

"Obviously, my art and my life have long been magnets for controversy, but these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality. My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how - and why - others are now choosing to misrepresent the past, that is the truth," he wrote. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The 52-year-old has been officially dropped by his record label, manager of 25 years and talent agency.

In a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter, Loma Vista Recordings in February said they will no longer promote Manson's recent album or work with him on future projects.

"In light of today’s disturbing allegations by Evan Rachel Wood and other women naming Marilyn Manson as their abuser, Loma Vista will cease to further promote his current album, effective immediately. Due to these concerning developments, we have also decided not to work with Marilyn Manson on any future projects," the record label said.

Three days after the first allegations were made, police were called to Manson's house just after 6pm due to reports of a "disturbing incident."

TMZ reports officers were called after a worried friend called "concerned for his wellbeing".

"Let the truth be revealed." Former partners stand beside his accusers.

Two of Mansons more well-known ex's were quick to make statements as allegations emerged. 

Rose McGowan, who was engaged to Manson for two years before their split in 2001, said she is "proud" of Wood and the other accusers.  

She said Manson was "not like that" when they were in a relationship, but that has "no bearing on whether he was like that with others before or after". 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I stand with Evan Rachel Wood and other brave women who have come forward," McGowan said in a tweet. "It takes years to recover from abuse and I send them strength on their journey to recovery. Let the truth be revealed. Let the healing begin."

Days after the initial allegations were made, Dita Von Teese - who was married to the rocker for a year in 2005, explained that she has been "processing the news". 

ADVERTISEMENT

"To those who have expressed your concerns of my well-being, I appreciate your kindness. Please know that the details made public do not match my personal experience during our seven years together as a couple," she wrote. 

"Had they, I would have not married him in December 2005. I left 12 months later due to infidelity and drug abuse," she continued. 

"Smashing her head with a sledgehammer." Manson's past words re-examined. 

As the allegations sunk in, Manson's past interviews and admissions have reemerged in headlines.

ADVERTISEMENT

A 2009 Spin Magazine interview with Manson quotes the rocker as saying of Evan Rachel Wood, "I have fantasies every day about smashing her skull in with a sledgehammer."

"Every time I called her that day - I called 158 times - I took a razor blade and I cut myself on my face or on my hands. I wanted to show her the pain she put me through," he continued.

Manson's own 1998 autobiography shares more dark quotes, with The Long Hard Road Out of Hell described by the Chicago Reader, as "generally mistreating one or more women per page."

He talks about plotting the murder of his ex-partner and bandmate Nancy because she "had to die."

"At the time, taking someone’s life seemed like a necessary growing and learning experience, like losing your virginity or having a child," he wrote.

He recalled a story where he continually harassed a "hot brunette" who he threatened to rape in the parking lot and "crush you underneath your own car" when she refused his attention. 

There is a horrible chapter where he admits to sexually assaulting a woman after tricking her into getting drunk, referring to her as a "sea creature" and a "water behemoth."

And in a chapter called "Meat and Greet" he details a story where he invited a deaf groupie back to the recording studio, covered her in raw meat, urinated on her, and encouraged his bandmates to perform sex acts with her. 

ADVERTISEMENT

You can read more about Manson's autobiography here.

"I thought he was actually going to kill me." The allegations continue. 

At least 14 women have now come forward to accuse Manson of abuse, with many more backing up those allegations with witness accounts of violent tendencies.

In 2018, actor Charlyne Yi alleged that Manson harassed her and other women while visiting the set of the TV series House. She said he made inappropriate sexual comments to the women and called her a “China man.”

Yi was forced to deactivate her social media after speaking out. 

ADVERTISEMENT

A week after naming Manson as her abuser, Wood shared more allegations against the singer, detailing his anti-Semitic and racist behaviour.

"I was called a 'Jew' in a derogatory manner," she alleged on Instagram. 

"He would draw swastikas over my bedside table when he was mad at me. I heard the 'n' word over and over," she continued.

"Everyone around him was expected to laugh and join in. If you did not or (god forbid) called him out, you were singled out and abused more. I have never been so scared in my life."

After her initial Instagram statement, Wood made more allegations. 

The actor posted three photos of Manson’s tattoos — two on his arms, one on his chest — that she described as Nazi symbols.

Actress Bianca Allaine told The Sun she was 16 in 1995 when Manson 'forcefully kissed' her.

Three years later they began a relationship, which Allaine said in hindsight was "emotionally abusive".

"Now that I've actually had love in my life, I know that wasn't love. I don't know what I was thinking," she told The Sun.

"He would be very sweet one minute, and then he'd degrade me in front of his friends... The worst was he once told me I looked like a dirty Mexican w**** because I have olive skin.

"He would purposely say things like that to make me feel bad about myself."

Allaine claimed Manson made her have sex with his friends while he watched.

"He was never violent towards me, but I believe the women who have come forward and feel I've dodged a bullet in a lot of ways," she said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Twitter threads from 2020 written by guitarist and radio co-host Dan Cleary have also been revisited in light of Wood's allegations. 

He narrated what happened with Wood when he worked for Manson in 2007-08, alleging Manson "turned Wood into a different person in just one year." 

"He would threaten to kill her, cut her up, bury her, embarrass her to the world. Making her cry and fear  made him feel good," he wrote.

ADVERTISEMENT

Singer Phoebe Bridgers has also tweeted out her support to the alleged victims sharing that when she visited Manson's house as a teenager he referred to a room in his house as the "rape room."

ADVERTISEMENT

Wolf Alice singer Ellie Rowsell tweeted, "I met Marilyn backstage at a festival a few years ago. After his compliments towards my band became more and more hyperbolic I became suspicious of his behaviour. I was shocked to look down and see he was filming up my skirt with a GoPro." 

ADVERTISEMENT

Scarlett Kapella says Manson subjected her to emotional, physical and sexual abuse after pursuing her in 2011 while she was modeling in Mexico City.

“I had respected him as an artist and was thrilled he wanted to work with me and wanted to paint me,” she posted on Instagram. “He would go from charming and loving to complete monster behaviour... He exploited an unequal power dynamic and put me in a place of fear, controlling when I was allowed to speak, what outfits and colour lipstick I could wear.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Torii Lynn, who runs a Los Angeles-based vintage clothing and jewellery shop, said she experienced Manson’s abuse “first hand”.

“It’s taken me years to truly understand the damage he has done to me, plus of the people I love most in this world,” Lynn wrote in an Instagram Story. “Marilyn Manson is an abuser.”

Musician Chløë Black says she was subjected to Manson's abuse 10 years ago, writing in an Instagram post, "He said many racist and anti-Semitic things and laughed at my outrage. He belittled me for listening to ‘black people music.’ When he flew into a rage he had a growling animalistic scream and threw glasses at walls. One night I thought he was actually going to kill me, he confided something so dark, violent and incriminating that I thought there was no way he was going to let me leave that house alive."

ADVERTISEMENT

Artist and writer Louise Keay Bell wrote on Instagram that Manson emotionally and financially abused her when she was 19 years old. 

“I looked up to him and he took advantage of my trust, exploited me, emotionally and financially abused me and tried to control me,” Kaey Bell wrote in an Instagram post. “After speaking out I experienced harassment, stalking and cyberbullying, some of this from people associated with him.”

Fashion stylist Love Bailey says Manson pulled a gun on her during a photoshoot in 2011.

Manson had just finished having sex with a "blackout wasted" actress who fell and hurt her knee on a bedside table.

"So I ran over to help [the actress],” Baily said in a video on Instagram. “Marilyn pulls a gun to my head ... and he pulls a Glock straight to my forehead and says, ‘I don’t like faggots’ as he laughs in a really dark, aggressive tone. This wasn’t a joke.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Model and makeup artist Saint Sasha says she felt fearful of Manson during their 2016 relationship describing him as "the most terrifying human being I have ever known with more power than any one person should ever have."

"There’s more to this story, and scarier sides of him that I wish I could scream at the top of my lungs, but know I wouldn’t get away with," she wrote in a 2016 blog post, re-shared this week on her Instagram.

ADVERTISEMENT

Adult film star Jenna Jameson revealed the singer fantasised about burning her body alive in an interview with Daily Mail. She has not, however, accused him of abuse.

"Our relationship was odd. We didn’t go out long because I cut it off after he would nonchalantly say he fantasised about burning me alive. Sexually he liked to bite, and it was disconcerting," Jameson shared.

Game Of Thrones actress Esme Bianco, who began dating Manson in 2011 and is now suing him, came forward with allegations of abuse, saying "she felt like a prisoner" during the time she spent with the singer.  

In a February 2021 interview with The Cut, Bianco explained that in 2009 Manson asked her to fly to LA to star in a music video with him, where he said he needed "to have a victim/lover".

But while Bianco believed the job would be purely professional, she claimed she "spent the next three days in lingerie, barely sleeping or eating, with Manson serving up cocaine rather than food." 

The 38-year-old said that she remembers him losing his temper and becoming violent, even "tying her with cables to a prayer kneeler, lashing her with a whip, and using an electric sex toy called a Violet Wand on her wounds".

The pair later began a long-distance relationship and when they would meet up, Bianco said, "Manson would bite her during sex without her consent, leaving her whole body bruised".

ADVERTISEMENT

She eventually moved into Manson’s West Hollywood apartment in 2011, where she lived with the singer for two months. But after a brief honeymoon period, Bianco said, "he soon began to control every aspect of her life."

"I basically felt like a prisoner," she told the publication. "I came and went at his pleasure. Who I spoke to was completely controlled by him. I called my family hiding in the closet."

In one instance, he also "repeatedly cut her torso with a knife". 

"I just remember laying there, and I didn’t fight it" she explained. "It was kind of this final-straw moment where I had lost all sense of hope and safety."

She later reached her breaking point in May 2011, when Manson chased her around the apartment with an axe, a month after she moved in. The actress eventually left Manson in June 2011.

If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.

This article was originally published on February 15, 2021 and has been updated.

Feature image: Facebook/Getty.