Marilyn Manson accuser Esmé Bianco criticises prosecutors’ handling of rape allegations
Esmé Bianco, the Game of Thrones actor and one of the most high-profile Marilyn Manson accusers has criticised the prosecutors’ handling of the case.
Bianco and several other women, including fellow actor Evan Rachel Wood – who led the way by going public with her claims on Instagram in 2021 – stepped forward with shocking allegations of sexual and psychological abuse against the rocker, real name Brian Warner. Around this time, Bianco had her first meeting with the FBI and sheriff investigator, as the story also unfolded publicly.
That same month, Bianco accused Manson of abusing her during their two-year relationship that ended in 2011 and occurred after she split from her husband. Then, in April of that year, Bianco sued the musician for sexual assault, human trafficking and abuse. The British actor claimed she was given alcohol and drugs and subjected to threats of violence and rape. In one instance, she maintained that the singer tied her to a prayer kneeler, whipped her, and raper her.
Responding through his attorney, Manson labelled the allegations “provably false”. Following his house being raided by the Special Victims Unit in November, 2021, and vehemently denying all claims, he and Bianco reached an out-of-court settlement in January, 2023, with the terms not publicised.
Despite the agreement, Bianco spoke to prosecutors in an exhaustive three-hour interview at Los Angeles’ Hall of Justice that month and now says she’s willing to testify in front of a jury.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Bianco has questioned prosecutors’ handling of the case. “What is the holdup? I’m doing all the things. It’s long overdue that Brian Warner sees the inside of a courtroom. I would be ecstatic if he saw the inside of a jail, because that’s where he deserves to be, but whatever is coming, we’ll survive it. We’ve survived it this far. Once you’ve survived him, you could survive anything. If I have to walk through hell reliving it all over again, and it puts him behind bars, then that’s what I’ll do,” she told the publication.
Bianco, who played Ros in Game of Thrones, maintains that fundamentally, she wants a decision, whatever that may be, and that at the moment, she’s trapped in a state of unbalance, waiting to see how which drastically different reality will pan out from the conclusion of the case.
The actor explained: “I don’t take issue with due process at all. I don’t take issue with a thorough investigation. I want them to do a thorough investigation because I know the truth, so I want them to do that. I want to make sure that if they bring charges against him, and if it goes to trial, that it’s an airtight case and they will win. The last thing I want is to see him go through a trial and get away with it.”
Continuing: “But there has to be a point at which you call ‘time,’ and you make an informed decision. Nearly four years is far beyond a reasonable amount of time to keep multiple survivors of a serial perpetrator waiting,” Bianco says, sitting at a table about a block from the same Hall of Justice with her lawyer, Jay Ellwanger.”
She also concedes that it feels wrong that she’s been compelled to “hound” prosecutors for updates, stating, “I’ve handed over all of my evidence, warts and all. I’ve made it perfectly clear I’m going to be as cooperative as I can be. I’ve made myself available to them. I have the willingness to stick my neck out. Yet, we’re still waiting. It’s just devastating.”
The latest updates on the Marilyn Manson allegations
Earlier this week, it was revealed that new details concerning the case are coming to light. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced that the sexual abuse case Manson faces is currently under new review by the Sex Crimes Division due to “new leads” emerging.
Gascón released a statement confirming that prosecutors will be assessing “new leads and additional evidence” which have materialised due to the ongoing investigation into the Manson abuse case by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. However, the specifics of what the evidence pertains has not been made clear.
The District Attorney said his office is expected to “[make] a filing decision soon and will provide an update when that time comes.” Gascón also wrote, “At that time, I look forward to meeting with the victims to discuss how my office can continue to support them.”
Manson denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
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.
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