Evan Rachel Wood was in a relationship with Marilyn Manson from 2007 to 2011. The two even planned to get married but broke off their engagement before walking down the aisle.
In the years that have followed, Evan has given interviews in which she alludes to having survived a relationship with an abusive ex. While many have assumed she was referencing her relationship with Marilyn, Evan has never come out and confirmed that — until now.
Evan released a statement that put Marilyn's name to the stories many of us have heard:
"The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson. He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years."
She continued, "I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission. I am done living in fear of retaliation, slander, or blackmail. I am here to expose this dangerous man and call out the many industries that have enabled him, before he ruins any more lives. I stand with the many victims who will no longer be silent."
Three additional women came forward with stories of their own about Marilyn Manson, and his current representatives have not yet issued a statement of their own. A former publicist emailed Variety with a statement: "TCB believes and supports survivors of abuse."
Evan first began speaking about her abuse in 2016 in an interview with Rolling Stone. She told the reporter by email that the abuse perpetrated against her included rape:
"I've been raped. By a significant other while we were together. And on a separate occasion, by the owner of a bar … I don't believe we live in a time where people can stay silent any longer. Not given the state our world is in with its blatant bigotry and sexism."
Evan attempted suicide at the age of 22, and she has since confirmed that her past experiences with assault were a contributing factor.
In 2018, Marilyn Manson was one of the people named in a series of sexual assault cases brought to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
The filing accused Marilyn Manson of crimes going back to 2011, but the district attorney's office declined to take the case. Marilyn's lawyer issued a statement celebrating the decision:
"Under current policy, the Los Angeles County District Attorney must investigate any claim of sexual abuse, no matter how outlandish. It is not surprising that the District Attorney, after investigation, summarily rejected the claims made in a police report filed by a former acquaintance against Brian Warner p/k/a Marilyn Manson."
The statement continued: "The allegations made to the police were and are categorically denied by Mr. Warner and are either completely delusional or part of a calculated attempt to generate publicity for the claimant’s business of selling Manson memorabilia. The police report that spurred the investigation was accompanied by the woman’s press release and other attempts to generate publicity that fraudulently claimed she was held captive by Mr. Warner for 48 hours in 2011. Any claim of sexual impropriety or imprisonment at that, or any other, time is false."
Marilyn Manson wasn't the only person who had cases filed against him in LA. Other notable names included Girls writer Murray Miller, rapper ASAP Bari, and fitness guru Michael Torchia.
The Hollywood Reporter has detailed some of what Evan has come forward with; she has stated the assault included "blackmail, manipulation and isolation; physical abuse, such as cutting; and rape."
