A judge has ruled that Marilyn Manson, also known as Brian Warner, must bear the majority of the legal fees incurred by his ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wood in defense against certain aspects of the defamation lawsuit filed by Manson against her and her associate Ilma Gore in early 2022
According to Rolling Stone, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Teresa A. Beaudet recently mandated that Marilyn Manson pay $326,956 of Wood‘s legal fees in the ongoing lawsuit. However, the judge concurred with Manson‘s legal team that some hours billed by Wood‘s defense were too vague, resulting in a reduction of approximately $60,000 from the initially sought sum.
This development follows the dismissal of several claims made by Marilyn Manson against Wood in the defamation suit by the same judge in May of the previous year. During that ruling, the judge affirmed Wood‘s ability to make allegations of rape and abuse against Manson under her First Amendment and litigation privileges. Nevertheless, certain aspects of Manson‘s suit, including allegations of conspiracy to hack his computer and impersonation over the internet, are still active.
Marilyn Manson contends that Wood and Gore conspired to hack his computer and impersonate him online. He also claims they orchestrated an incident that led to a ‘swatting’ at his residence in February 2021. The remaining claims in Manson‘s suit are set for trial on May 1st.
Actress Esme Bianco sued Marilyn Manson for rape, sexual assault and trafficking in May 2021, however the case was settled out of court last month. Rolling Stone, who were given an official statement on the matter, reported that Bianco’s lawyer, Jay Ellwanger, said, “Ms. Bianco has agreed to resolve her claims against Brian Warner and Marilyn Manson Records, Inc. in order to move on with her life and career.”
Numerous women have come forward accusing Manson of abuse, including his former assistant Ashley Walters, who claimed that he subjected her to “personal and professional sexual exploitation, manipulation and psychological abuse.” That lawsuit was dismissed by a judge last year for exceeding the statute of limitations. That case is currently under appeal.
Model Ashley Morgan Smithline’s suit against Manson was dismissed after she recanted her accusations.
“I remember [Wood] asked me whether I had been, among other things, whipped, chained, tied up, branded/cut, assaulted while sleeping, beaten, or raped,” Smithline claimed. “She said all of these things happened to Ms. Wood and others, and that when Ms. Wood was with Mr. Warner every moment was a moment of survival.
“When I said, ‘No, this did not happen to me and this was not my experience,’ I recall being told by Ms. Wood that just because I could not remember did not necessarily mean that it did not happen. Eventually, I started to believe that what I was repeatedly told happened to Ms. Wood and Ms. [Esme] Bianco also happened to me.”
Despite the allegations, Marilyn Manson continues to deny the claims made against him.
