Shock rocker Marilyn Manson has agreed to drop his defamation lawsuit against his former fiancée, actress Evan Rachel Wood, bringing an end to a protracted legal battle. The settlement includes a significant payment of nearly $327,000 to cover Wood’s attorney fees. This development comes nearly four years after a criminal investigation was launched into Manson, involving multiple women alleging sexual abuse, and remains unresolved.
The lawsuit, filed 18 months ago, stemmed from Wood’s public allegations of sexual and physical abuse during her relationship with Manson. Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, vehemently denied these accusations, claiming Wood fabricated the allegations and encouraged others to do the same. His attorney, Howard King, stated, “After four years of fighting a battle where he was able to tell the truth, Brian is pleased to dismiss his still-pending claims and appeal in order to close the door on this chapter of his life.”
While Manson had been appealing an earlier court decision that partially dismissed the lawsuit, a settlement was reached after his attorneys contacted Wood’s legal team this spring. Wood’s attorney, Michael J. Kump, rejected requests for confidentiality surrounding the settlement terms, stating that Manson “filed a lawsuit against Ms. Wood as a publicity stunt to try to undermine the credibility of his many accusers and revive his faltering career,” and that his attempt to silence and intimidate Wood ultimately failed.
The settlement comes at a critical juncture in the ongoing criminal investigation. Outgoing Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón revealed in October that new evidence had emerged, delaying a decision on whether to file criminal charges against Manson. This ongoing investigation involves several unidentified women, though Game of Thrones actress Esme Bianco has publicly voiced her criticism of the lengthy investigation process. Bianco herself settled a separate lawsuit against Manson last year. Manson continues to deny all allegations of non-consensual sexual acts.
Wood first spoke publicly about her experiences with abuse in 2017, amidst the rising #MeToo movement, testifying before a Congressional committee in 2018 without naming her abuser. She later publicly identified Manson in a 2020 Instagram post as her abuser, stating that he “horrifically abused me for years.” The pair were romantically involved from 2007, briefly engaged in 2010, before ultimately separating.
The original lawsuit alleged defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and career sabotage by Wood and another woman, Ashley Gore (also known as Illma Gore). Manson’s suit claimed they used false pretenses, including a purportedly forged FBI letter, to convince other women to come forward with accusations and coached their statements. The court dismissed portions of the lawsuit dealing with the FBI letter and a checklist allegedly used by Wood and Gore to encourage abuse claims. However, other claims, including allegations against Gore of hacking Manson’s accounts and engaging in ‘swatting’ tactics, were initially not dismissed. Gore’s part of the lawsuit has subsequently been dismissed, with Manson paying $130,000 in her attorney’s fees. The settlement marks a significant development in this complex and high-profile case, leaving the criminal investigation as the next crucial chapter in the unfolding story.
