Marilyn Manson Responds to Allegations of Abuse | 22 Words

Yesterday, Evan Rachel Wood made the groundbreaking allegation that her ex-fiancé, Marilyn Manson, had subjected her to horrific abuse during their relationship...

And today, the musician has responded.

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Manson, real name Brian Warner, has now spoken out about the allegations, but what he had to say has caused a whole load of outrage.

Here's the full story...

Now, Wood has spoken about her experience with abuse quite candidly in the past.

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In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, the West World actress explained:

"I've been raped. By a significant other while we were together. And on a separate occasion, by the owner of a bar. I don't believe we live in a time where people can stay silent any longer. Not given the state our world is in with its blatant bigotry and sexism."

And, in 2018, she bravely described being abused in front of a House Judiciary Committee as part of a campaign to pass a bill of rights protecting abuse victims.

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​She did not name her abuser at the time but said:

"My experience with domestic violence was this: Toxic mental, physical and sexual abuse which started slow but escalated over time, including threats against my life, severe gas-lighting, and brainwashing."

Her testimony continued:

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"I mustered the courage to leave several times, but he would call my house incessantly and threaten to kill himself. On one occasion, I returned to try and defuse the situation, he cornered me in our bedroom and asked me to kneel... Once I was restrained he beat me... To him, it was a way for me to prove my loyalty. The pain was excruciating. It felt like I left my body and a part of me died that day."

From this, Wood helped to create the Phoenix Act in 2019.

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Signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the act extends the statute of limitations on domestic violence from 3 years to 5.

It took effect in January 2020.

Yet, throughout these incredible milestones, her abuser was never named.

Wood remained tight-lipped about who it was who had put her through such awful abuse - though, of course, people had their suspicions.

And all eyes were on one man in particular.

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In 2007, a nineteen-year-old Wood went public with musician, Marilyn Manson, who was eighteen years her senior.

3 years later in 2010, the pair announced their engagement...

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But, 7 months later, it was called off.

Now, Manson's public behavior with regards to his and Wood's relationship had been questionable for quite some time.

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In Christmas 2008, when asked about their relationship, he had revealed:

"Every time I called her that day - I called 158 times - I took a razor blade..."

"I wanted to show her the pain she put me through. It was like, 'I want you to physically see what you've done'."

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In 2009, Manson then told Spin:

"The song, 'I Want to Kill You Like They Do in The Movies' is about my fantasies."

And, when responding to a question about his relationship with Wood, he had replied:

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"I have fantasies every day about smashing her skull in with a sledgehammer."

So, with all of this considered...

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It is hardly surprising that suspicions surrounding Manson were rife.

And, late last year, when British music magazine, Metal Hammer, asked Manson about Wood's abuse allegations during a telephone interview...

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He hung up.

His representatives later turned down a request for the singer to do another interview to clarify his story. "We have advised our client not to comment further on your article," said Manson's spokesman.

His reps quickly released a statement, which read:

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"You then go on to talk about Manson being accused of 'terrible things' by unnamed 'critics' but offer no guidance on who these critics are and what these things are, so it's not possible to comment... It is my understanding that Evan Rachel Wood dated multiple people around the time she was dating Manson. Basic internet research will give you a host of other names that have not come up in any of our discussions."

But now, Wood has finally broken the anonymity.

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In a tell-all statement, the actress revealed yesterday that Manson was indeed her alleged abuser.

In the wake of her post, at least 4 other women came forward with similar stories about Manson, according to Vanity Fair.

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"As he was wooing me, I would come to find out he was torturing others," accuser Sarah McNeilly wrote on Instagram.

"He would tie me up for the first of many times and rape me," alleged a woman named Gabriella.

"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," wrote accuser Ashley Morgan.

People have been praising Wood for speaking out...

Here's her full statement.

"The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson. 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 any more lives.

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

Now, in the aftermath of her statement, things have been going from bad to worse for Manson.

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Almost immediately, his record label, Loma Vista Records, took action. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, they said:

"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."

His fans have been quick to drop him, too.

Manson fans far and wide have been taking to Twitter to express their disgust and disappointment in the musician.

And now?

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Well, he has finally addressed the allegations - by whole-heartedly denying them.

He described the claims as "horrible distortions of reality"...

The full statement reads:

"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."

This is a developing story, and updates will be posted accordingly.