Marilyn Manson launches appeal in defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood
Marilyn Manson has submitted a 92-page document appealing a decision made by a judge to dismiss parts of his defamation and emotional distress lawsuit against actor Evan Rachel Wood.
The appeal was launched by a legal team on behalf of the rock singer on August 27th. Manson, real name Brian Warner, first made legal action against Wood, and her friend, Ilma Gore, after Wood alleged him of sexual misconduct and accused him of grooming her as a teenager.
More than a dozen women came forward to make allegations against Warner, and in his lawsuit, he claimed Wood and Gore had “engaged in a malicious campaign to harm” against him.
In May, 2023, a judge dismissed a large portion of Warner’s claims against Wood and Gore. Furthermore, he was ordered to pay close to $500,000 to the pair to cover their legal fees. However, he is now looking to appeal the decision. Warner denies all accusations of wrongdoing.
A key part of Warner’s appeal focusses on a letter from an alleged FBI agent that his legal team claim was forged to “create the false appearance that Warner was under FBI investigation and his ‘victims’ were in danger.”
The letter, which has been obtained by Rolling Stone, reads, “Ms. Evan Rachel Wood is a key witness in connection to a criminal investigation in Los Angeles, California involving an international and well known public figure … Contact for more information regarding the safety of victims [sic] Human and Sex Trafficking crimes.”
In a statement, Wood’s attorney Michael Kump has denied the allegation, claiming, “Warner’s appeal simply rehashes the same meritless claims which the trial court threw out. As Ms. Wood testified under oath, she did not fabricate or forge the FBI letter.”
Furthermore, the appeal also alleges the judge ignored a testimony from Ashley Morgan Smithline who accused Warner of misconduct but now says she “succumbed to pressure” from Wood and claimed she made “untrue” allegations. Wood denies these claims.
Smithline’s testimony wasn’t considered by the judge because it was submitted following the deadline. Warner’s lawyers said of the decision, “The trial court prioritized convenience over the core function of the anti-SLAPP statute, which is to dispose of truly meritless suits before discovery.”
Last year, during an appearance on the Navigating Narcissism podcast, Wood told host Dr Ramani of her decision to make public allegations against Warner in 2021: “When I realised what a physical impact it was having on me, that was a breaking point, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stay quiet. I realised my silence was keeping me really sick.”
Meanwhile, Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco also sued Warner for sexual, physical and emotional abuse in 2021 before later reaching an out-of-court settlement with the singer in 2023.
In a statement, Bianco’s laywer, Jay Kellenger, said of the settlement: “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”.
Despite the judge’s ruling over certain elements of the defamation case, it’s still set to head to trial over claims made by Warner that Wood and Gore hacked his computer in order to impersonate him on social media.
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.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.