Marilyn Manson Abandons Defamation Lawsuit Against Evan Rachel Wood

Marilyn Manson, the shock rocker born Brian Warner, has officially dropped his defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood, reaching a settlement where he will pay her roughly $327,000 in attorneys’ fees. Filed in March 2022, the lawsuit followed Wood's public accusations against Manson of sexual and psychological abuse, which she revealed in February 2021. Manson, who denied the allegations as "horrific distortions of reality," accused Wood and her partner, Illma Gore, of coercing women to testify against him and defaming him as a rapist and abuser to derail his career. This is prepared by SSP.

Wood had identified Manson, her former fiancé, as her abuser after detailing experiences of grooming and abuse during their relationship, which started when she was a teenager. Manson, in turn, claimed that Wood's accusations were aimed to undermine his career and reputation. However, Wood remained steadfast, highlighting in court that Manson’s lawsuit served as a publicity stunt.

A significant point of litigation came when a 2023 court decision found parts of Manson's case to be without merit, ordering him to pay nearly $500,000 in legal fees, putting Manson in litigation overdrive until his eventual decision to drop the case, putting an end to the courtroom drama.

Documents securing the settlement marked a decisive conclusion for the prolonged legal battle which Wood’s representatives saw as affirmation of the lawsuit's weakness. "Warner’s abandonment and agreement to cover Wood's legal expenses further substantiate the lack of merit in his claims," her rep stated. Thus, Manson's choice encapsulates his closure of this challenging chapter as stressed by his attorney in statements to the press.

Earlier, SSP wrote that Selena Gomez reflected on early industry confusions.