Multiple women have accused Marilyn Manson (real name Brian Warner) of sexual misconduct, abuse, and assault over the past few years, and while one of them, his former partner Ashley Morgan Smithline, recanted her allegations, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Cascón now says that his office’s Sex Crimes Division is now reviewing “new leads and additional evidence” against Manson. A statement from Gascón released on Wednesday (10/9) reads:
Experienced prosecutors from our office’s Sex Crimes Division are carefully reviewing new leads and additional evidence that continue to come to our attention from the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s investigation. New evidence has emerged within the last few weeks, adding to an already extensive case file presented to our office by the LASD. It is our office’s responsibility to ensure that we have a complete picture of the admissible evidence available before making a filing decision. Senior staff members have met with victims, and our prosecutors continue to remain in contact with the victims and their representatives throughout this process. We are committed to making sure they are treated with dignity and respect. I have received requests from victims to meet personally to discuss the case, however, as the case is being investigated it would be inappropriate for me, as District Attorney, to meet with victims during this time. We anticipate making a filing decision soon and will provide an update when that time comes. At that time, I look forward to meeting with the victims to discuss how my office can continue to support them.
Manson has denied all allegations against him, and reached a settlement with Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco back in January. He also settled in September with the Jane Doe who filed a suit against him in 2021 accusing him of raping her in 2011.
Evan Rachel Wood formally accused Manson of abuse in 2021 after previously speaking about the allegations without naming him in 2018 and 2019 testimonies for the House Judiciary Committee and CA Senate. He sued her for defamation and emotional distress in 2022, and a judge threw out parts of the suit in February, ordering him to pay $500,000 in Wood and co-defendent Illma Gore’s legal fees. He’s since appealed the judge’s decision, filing a 92-page document last month that accuses Wood and Gore of having “recruited, pressured and coached others to make heinous, untrue accusations” against him through spreading “falsehoods … hack[ing] his accounts … manufactur[ing] fictitious e-mails; and ‘swatt[ing]” his home, according to legal documents viewed by Rolling Stone Wood’s attorney, Michael Kump, told Rolling Stone, “Warner’s appeal simply rehashes the same meritless claims which the trial court threw out.”
Amid his legal issues, Manson has also been attempting to launch a comeback on his musical career, touring and announcing a new album, One Assassination Under God — Chapter 1, due out next month via Nuclear Blast.