Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson in 2006.

Time to put on some
Music

Soundtrack

* Saint John Coltrane Church
* Punk
* Hip-hop
* Tomorrow Belongs to Me
* Jerry Springer: The Opera
* Rock Against Racism

Musicians

* Frank Zappa
* Robert Byrd
* Charles Manson
* Morrissey
* Dana Rohrabacher
* Larry Craig

v \- t \- e

Marilyn Manson, born Brian Hugh Warner, (1969–) is an American rock musician. His stage name was formed by juxtaposing the names of two American cultural icons, namely actress Marilyn Monroe and murderer Charles Manson.[1][2][3] Manson generated controversy both for both his provocative image and lyrics, as well as for doing some things clearly in the name of stirring up controversy, like tearing up a Book of Mormon to spite religious leaders attempting to bribe him not to hold a concert in Utah. For this reason he is also commonly labelled a "shock-rocker". His lyrics reveal a fascination with death, violence, sex, authority, and celebrity. His artistic contributions to iconoclasm are often interpreted as anti-Christian, especially his 1996 anti-authoritarian concept album, Antichrist Superstar, though he says he has respect for many aspects of the religion. He received the honorary title of Reverend of the Church of Satan from founder and friend Anton LaVey, though he is not a Satanist himself. Manson does not believe in a God or gods, an atheist by definition despite not self-identifying as one.[4] He has also received much erroneous blame for causing youth school shootings and suicides.[5]

## Contents

* 1 History and ideology
* 2 Fundie backlash
* 3 Columbine
* 4 Nazi imagery
* 5 Abuse allegations
* 6 External links
* 7 References

## History and ideology[edit]

Marilyn Manson (and the Spooky Kids) formed in 1989 and released their first studio album 1994, Portrait of an American Family. This album, which Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails produced in the Sharon Tate House, was basically LSD mixed with Satan, Willy Wonka, and George Carlin. It was a cheesy and satirical album about the dark ridiculousness of America's moral underbelly, and Reznor took Manson's band on the road with greater exposure as a result. Antichrist Superstar is staunchly anti-conservative, anti-establishment, and anti-theistic. Its tour's shocking antics further solidified Manson as a boogeyman for sanctimonious religious conservatives. The album after that, Mechanical Animals, is arguably more musical and artistic, showing more Marilyn than Manson. It happened to be a case of Manson returning to vibes and emotions while experiencing alienation and the shallow numbness of society. The next album, Holy Wood, is a critique of how the media deals with death in response to the columbine shooting. The albums Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Holy Wood make up a tryptich (trilogy), Manson saying the story is a human cycle that occurs in reverse chronological order. Throughout his career, Manson has definitely been in favor of personal freedom and social progress. He voted for Barack Obama and, in the music video for his song "SAY10", decapitated Trump long before Kathy Griffin did. Despite this, he is certainly not a "vote blue no matter who" type of person as evidenced by his statement in 2016, saying a vote for Trump or Clinton would be voting "between cat shit and dog shit".[6][7]

## Fundie backlash[edit]

Following the release of their album Antichrist Superstar, Frank Keating, then-Governor of Oklahoma, said:

> It's important for us to say 'We're not going to shut you down by law, we're not going to shut you down by the writ of a censor, we're going to shut you down because what you propose is not uplifting. It's not helpful, doesn't advance the culture.'

Many people in cities where the band played began to pray for them and their fans to be "saved." Manson, meanwhile, argued that it has always been the job of artists to push culture forward.[8]

In 2000, Bill O'Reilly invited Manson to appear on the "Children At Risk" segment of his show:

> O'Reilly: What's your message, what are you trying to get across in the lyrics to these songs?
> Manson: It's always about being yourself and not being ashamed of being different or thinking different. I try and take everyone's ideals, common morals, flip them around, make people look at them differently, question them so that you're not always taking things for granted.

O'Reilly attempted to challenge Manson's presentation of this message. However, O'Reilly had bitten off more than he could chew. Rather than getting angry with O'Reilly's interruptions and "think of the children" mindset, Manson makes the point that it should be a parent's decision what their kids hear. O'Reilly admitted Manson was a "well spoken guy", but challenged his constant use of profanity. Manson's reply to that was:

> It's better to use a curse word than to hurt somebody, I find.

O'Reilly moved on and made Manson's point for him, claiming that Manson's lyrics might cause kids to commit murder or suicide to gain fame through death. Unfortunately for him, nobody told him that the point of Manson's stage name was to highlight the media's exact cause of that through their obsession with serial killers.[9]

## Columbine[edit]

“”I wouldn't say a single word to 'em. I would listen to what they have to say as that's what no one did.

—Manson, when asked what he would say to the perpetrators and community.

The Columbine High School shooting in Colorado was an opportunity for independent thinkers like Senators Joe Lieberman, Sam Brownback, and Orrin Hatch to take up Tipper Gore's old pet peeve and blame movies like The Matrix, rock and rap music, and in particular, Manson, for inspiring the Columbine killers and kids in general to commit murders. Manson stopped all promotional activity out of respect for the victims and decided to lay low for a while.

Manson gave an interview to filmmaker Michael Moore for his documentary Bowling for Columbine.[10] Due to the ongoing criticism by Christian groups aimed at his works, Manson later issued the following statement:

> I am truly amazed that after all this time, religious groups still need to attack entertainment and use these tragedies as a pitiful excuse for their own self-serving publicity. In response to their protests, I will provide a show where I balance my songs with a wholesome Bible reading. This way, fans will not only hear my so-called, 'violent' point of view, but we can also examine the virtues of wonderful 'Christian' stories of disease, murder, adultery, suicide and child sacrifice. Now that seems like 'entertainment' to me.[11]

Former bandmate Daisy Berkowitz noted the irony of Manson attempting to distance himself from Columbine, arguing that if he set out to portray himself as having such tremendous power over his listeners that he might as well claim his share of the credit. However, many responded that Berkowitz's comment failed to understand that things like the "Satanic Panic" were not real, while Columbine was a genuine, actual massacre, in which many children lost their lives.

In a further irony, the actual Columbine killers themselves, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, didn't even listen to Manson. As the man himself noted,[12] they actually disliked his music, and instead listened to bands like Rammstein and KMFDM[13] that, while briefly stained by controversy, weren't hit nearly as much as Manson was, likely because nobody had ever heard of them.

## Nazi imagery[edit]

See the main article on this topic: Godwin's Law

Being as cool and edgy as he is, Manson has at various times during his career picked up a penchant for using Nazi-inspired imagery and designs, both for album art and costumes.[14][15] While it's probably safe to say that Manson is in no way a proponent of anything reminiscent of Nazism, one does have to wonder about how tactful it is to basically dress up as one (though countless people do wear Hugo Boss without evoking controversy).

## Abuse allegations[edit]

On February 28, 2018, actress Evan Rachel Wood, in order to lend support to a bill in 2018 called the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights Act, gave testimony to Congress about sexual abuse that she experienced with an ex-partner. In the testimony, she claimed that she was raped in a locked storage closet at a bar while unconscious, and said that she was subject to "sick rituals of binding me up by my hands and feet to be mentally and physically tortured until my abuser felt I had proven my love for them".[16][17] This fleshed out earlier information that she had been raped "by a significant other while we were together" revealed in 2016.[18]

On February 1, 2021, Wood revealed who the partner was: Marilyn Manson.[19] This led to accusations of sexual assault, psychological abuse, and other forms of coercion, violence, and intimidation from four other women.[20] Allegations included a charge that Manson had a room in his house that he referred to as the "rape room"[21] and a charge that Manson once pulled a gun to a stylist's head in 2011.[22] The allegations resulted in Manson being dropped by his longtime manager Tony Ciulla, his record label Loma Vista, his booking agent Creative Artists Agency, and upcoming acting roles in the television shows American Gods and Creepshow.[23][24][25] Manson, of course, denied the allegations. While one of Manson's ex-wives, Dita Von Teese, stated that the details did "not match my personal experience" during her years with Manson (and stated that she left the relationship due to drug abuse and infidelity),[26] another person who was briefly engaged to Manson, Rose McGowan, expressed strong support for those making the accusations.[27] Manson himself had previously disturbingly talked about having "fantasies every day about smashing (Wood's) skull in with a sledgehammer" in 2009,[28] and had previously poo-poohed the #MeToo movement and the sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein.[29][30]

The accusations made against Manson were supported by several other musicians. Trent Reznor, who originally signed Marilyn Manson back when they were a small band called "Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids" in the South Florida goth scene,[31] only to have a falling out later over alleged drug abuse,[32] issued a statement denouncing Manson (and calling a passage from Manson's 1998 autobiography The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, where Manson claimed that he and Reznor sexually and physically assaulted an inebriated woman in the Nineties, a "complete fabrication").[33] Metal singer Otep Shamaya supported the accusations, and claimed that one of her friends would get calls from his current wife whenever Manson went on violent drug binges, which were allegedly complete with verbal assaults and accusations that his wife was cheating with an imaginary person.[34] Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland also supported the accusations, saying "every single thing that people have said about him is fucking true."[35]

The accusations only underscored Manson's history of violence. In 2009 Manson made a hollow violent threat towards journalists. [36] In 2001, Manson was charged with sexual assault when he rubbed his crotch against a security guard's head.[37] Manson's childhood was reportedly very troubled (his mother was abusive, wishing imaginary illnesses on Manson,[38] and his father was an extremely misogynistic ex-Vietnam vet),[39][40] but this hardly excuses Manson's alleged behavior (particularly since he's had years to seek help for his demons). As Borland said in his statement supporting the women, "sorry to take this to a dark place, but (Manson) is canceled. Goodbye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out."[35]

Four of Manson’s accusers filed civil lawsuits against him in the months that followed Wood's allegations:[41] Esmé Bianco,[42] Ashley Morgan Smithline,[43] Ashley Walters,[44] and an anonymous woman.[45] Manson's legal team issued statements denying the allegations.[46][47] They filed a motion to dismiss these lawsuits, calling the claims "untrue, meritless" and alleging that several of the accusers "spent months plotting, workshopping, and fine-tuning their stories to turn what were consensual friendships and relationships with Warner from more than a decade ago, into twisted tales that bear no resemblance to reality".[48] The lawsuit filed by the anonymous woman was initially dismissed because it exceeded the statute of limitations,[49][50] although an amended complaint was refiled soon after.[51][52] Manson's legal team also sought to have Bianco's lawsuit dismissed because it exceeded the statute of limitations, although a federal judge denied that motion.[53][54] Walters's lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in May.[55][56] Morgan Smithline's lawsuit was also dismissed by a federal judge, after her lawyer withdrew from her case and she did not meet a court-ordered deadline regarding her representation in the case.[57] Bianco and Manson reached an out-of-court settlement in January 2023 with undisclosed terms of agreement.[58] Smithline recanted her allegations in February 2023, alleging she "succumbed to pressure from [Wood] and her associates to make accusations of rape and assault against [Manson] that were not true".[59]

On March 2, 2022, Manson filed a lawsuit against Wood and Ashley "Illma" Gore for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, violations of the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, as well as the impersonation of an FBI agent and falsifying federal documents.[60] In the suit, it is alleged that Wood and Gore spent three years contacting his former girlfriends and provided "checklists and scripts" to prospective accusers in order to corroborate Wood's claims,[61][62] and that the pair impersonated and falsified documents from an FBI agent.[63] The suit additionally claims Gore hacked into Manson's computers and social media, and created fake email accounts to manufacture evidence he had been distributing "illicit pornography".[64] It is also alleged that Gore swatted Manson by calling the FBI claiming to be a friend concerned about an "emergency" at his home. As a result of the call, several police officers were dispatched to his property, where "there was no emergency".[65] He is seeking a jury trial.[66][67]

## External links[edit]

* Official website

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Charles Manson Trial, 2violent.com.
2. ↑ Manson, Marilyn (1998). The Long Hard Road out of Hell. HarperCollins. pp. 85–87\. ISBN 0-06-098746-4.85-87&rft.pub=HarperCollins&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=0-06-098746-4&rft.aulast=Manson&rft.aufirst=Marilyn&rfr_id=info:sid/rationalwiki.org:Marilyn+Manson" class="Z3988">
3. ↑ "Biography for Marilyn Manson". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlakLIwqfXw
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Manson–Columbine_High_School_massacre_controversy
6. ↑ Sarah Long, Marilyn Manson beheads Trump in new video, but he’s not a Clinton fan, either. sheknows.com, 8 November 2016.
7. ↑ Stef Lach, Marilyn Manson won't vote for Clinton or Trump. loudersound.com, 21 September 2016.
8. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5zOXR_FB_0
9. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=G6n5Oi4714o
10. ↑ Bowling For Columbine - Marilyn Manson Interview
11. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/marilyn-manson-185-1390296
12. ↑ Manson, Marilyn. "Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?" Rolling Stone, 24 June 1999 (recovered 29 November 2015).
13. ↑ A couple of mirrors of some of Harris' old web pages, containing the lyrics to the KMFDM songs "Son of a Gun" and "Power".
14. ↑ http://maluenda.tumblr.com/post/465693904/manson-shirt-with-imagery-very-reminiscent-of-the
15. ↑ http://deadfrankolson.blogspot.com/2013_03_01_archive.html
16. ↑ "Evan Rachel Wood: Actress tells Congress about sexual abuse", BBC News, 2018 February 28
17. ↑ "Evan Rachel Wood details sexual assaults to Congress" by Erin Jensen, USA Today, 2018 February 28
18. ↑ "Evan Rachel Wood: How Wild Past, Personal Demons Prepped Her for ‘Westworld’" by Alex Morris, Rolling Stone , 2016 November 17
19. ↑ "He “Horrifically Abused Me for Years”: Evan Rachel Wood and Other Women Make Allegations of Abuse Against Marilyn Manson" by Maureen Ryan, Vanity Fair, 2021 Febraury 1
20. ↑ "Marilyn Manson denies Evan Rachel Wood’s abuse allegations – ‘Horrible distortions of reality’" by Kate Feldman, Daily News, 2021 February 2
21. ↑ "Phoebe Bridgers Says Marilyn Manson Has a ‘Rape Room’ in His House" by Amanda Arnold, New York Magazine: The Cut, 2021 February 5
22. ↑ "Stylist who claims Marilyn Manson 'pulled a gun to my head' paints 'dark' scene" by Melissa Roberto, Fox News, 2021 February 4
23. ↑ "CAA Drops Marilyn Manson After Evan Rachel Wood’s Abuse Allegations; Follows Ax From ‘American Gods’ And ‘Creepshow" by Dominic Pattern and Alexandra Del Rosario, Deadline, 2021 February 2
24. ↑ "Marilyn Manson Dropped by Record Label, Booking Agent After Abuse Allegations" by Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2021 February 1
25. ↑ "Marilyn Manson Dropped by Longtime Manager Amid Sexual and Physical Abuse Allegations" by Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 2021 February 5
26. ↑ "Dita Von Teese speaks out on Marilyn Manson abuse allegations" by Rhian Daly, NME, 2021 February 4
27. ↑ "Rose McGowan Is ‘Disgusted’ by the Marilyn Manson Allegations" by Amanda Arnold, The Cut, 2021 February 3
28. ↑ "Q&A: Marilyn Manson" by William Goodman, Spin, 2009 June 24
29. ↑ "Marilyn Manson on Rose McGowan's Allegations Against Harvey Weinstein: "I Disagree with the Entire Snowball Effect" by Sarah Murphy, Exclaim, 2017 December 21
30. ↑ "Marilyn Manson speaks out on sexual harassment: ‘Tell the police, not the media’" by Mayer Nissim, NME, 2017 December 22
31. ↑ "A Miami Goth-Scene Pioneer's Battle With Cancer" by Andrea Richard, WLRN Miami South Florida, 2013 November 18
32. ↑ "Trent Reznor Disses Marilyn Manson" by Melissa Goldstein, Spin, 2009 June 2
33. ↑ "Trent Reznor Rebukes Marilyn Manson in New Statement" by Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 2021 February 3
34. ↑ "OTEP Alleges MARILYN MANSON's Wife Would Call Her House "Hysterical" Because Manson Was Drugged, Abusive" by Robert Pasbani, Metal Injunction, 2021 February 5
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Wes Borland on Marilyn Manson: "Every single thing that people have said about him is true" by Fraser Lewry, Metal Hammer, 2021 February 3
36. ↑ "Marilyn Manson threatens journalists with violence" by Sean Michaels, Guardian, 2009 July 30
37. ↑ "Marilyn Manson Charged With Sexual Assault" by NME, 2001 August 17
38. ↑ "Marilyn Manson: The Vampire of the Hollywood Hills" by Erik Hedegaard, Rolling Stone, 2015 January 6
39. ↑ "Marilyn Manson: a nose for trouble" by Tim Noakes, Dazed, 2015 February 19
40. ↑ "Marilyn Manson: ‘I created a fake world because I didn’t like the one I was living in’" by Carole Cadwalladr, Guardian, 2015 January 18
41. ↑ Adrian Horton (March 18, 2022). "Evan Rachel Wood's Marilyn Manson doc shows the messy timeline of healing". The Guardian.
42. ↑ Patten, Dominic (April 30, 2021). "Marilyn Manson Responds To Rape & Abuse Suit By 'Game Of Thrones' Actress Esmé Bianco". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
43. ↑ McClellan, Jennifer (June 30, 2021). "Fourth accuser sues Marilyn Manson for sexual assault and human trafficking". USA Today. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
44. ↑ Henderson, Cydney (May 18, 2021). "Marilyn Manson's former assistant sues him for sexual assault, battery". USA Today. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
45. ↑ Burke, Minyvonne; Dasrath, Diana (May 29, 2021). "Marilyn Manson's ex-girlfriend accuses him of rape, abuse in lawsuit". NBC News. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
46. ↑ "Game of Thrones actress Esme Bianco sues Marilyn Manson alleging abuse". The Daily Telegraph. May 1, 2021. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
47. ↑ Ylanan, Aida (April 30, 2021). "'GoT' actress Esmé Bianco sues Marilyn Manson for sexual assault, human trafficking". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
48. ↑ Savage, Mark (July 29, 2021). "Marilyn Manson files to dismiss Esme Bianco's sex assault case". BBC. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
49. ↑ Wong, Wilson Wong; Dasrath, Diana (September 16, 2021). "Judge dismisses ex-girlfriend's lawsuit against Marilyn Manson over statute of limitations". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
50. ↑ Minsker, Evan (September 15, 2021). "Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Accusing Marilyn Manson of Sexual Assault". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
51. ↑ Legaspi, Althea (September 23, 2021). "Woman Accusing Marilyn Manson of Rape, Threatening Life Revives Lawsuit". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
52. ↑ Mims, Taylor (September 24, 2021). "Marilyn Manson Rape Accuser Refiles Complaint After Judge Dismisses Original Lawsuit". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
53. ↑ "Judge denies Marilyn Manson's motion to dismiss Esmé Bianco's sexual assault lawsuit". USA Today. October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
54. ↑ Brown, August; Exposito, Suzy (November 5, 2021). "Marilyn Manson's accusers detail his alleged abuse. 'He's so much worse than his persona'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
55. ↑ "Sexual harassment suit against Marilyn Manson dismissed by judge". CBS News. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
56. ↑ Brisco, Elise (May 26, 2022). "Judge dismisses sexual assault lawsuit against Marilyn Manson filed by former assistant". USA Today. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
57. ↑ Torres, Eric (January 4, 2023). "Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
58. ↑ Grow, Kory (January 24, 2023). "Marilyn Manson, Esme Bianco Settle Sexual Assault Lawsuit". Rolling Stone.
59. ↑ Grow, Kory (February 23, 2023). "Marilyn Manson Accuser Ashley Morgan Smithline Recants Allegation". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
60. ↑ "Marilyn Manson Sues Evan Rachel Wood for Defamation, Distress, Impersonating FBI", Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, March 2, 2022
61. ↑ Saad, Nadine (March 2, 2022). "Marilyn Manson accuses ex Evan Rachel Wood of fraud, conspiracy in wild lawsuit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
62. ↑ Hughes, William (March 2, 2022). "Marilyn Manson sues Evan Rachel Wood for defamation". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
63. ↑ Yang, Maya (March 2, 2022). "Marilyn Manson files defamation suit against sexual abuse accuser Evan Rachel Wood". The Guardian. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
64. ↑ Patten, Dominic (March 2, 2022). "Marilyn Manson Sues Evan Rachel Wood Over Alleged "Malicious Falsehood" Of Abuse Claims; 'Westworld' Actress Forged FBI Letter, Suit Claims". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
65. ↑ Slisco, Aila (March 2, 2022). "Marilyn Manson Sues Evan Rachel Wood for Documentary, but Not Director, HBO". Newsday. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
66. ↑ Minelle, Bethany (March 2, 2022). "Marilyn Manson sues Evan Rachel Wood, saying actress cast him as a 'rapist and abuser'". Sky News. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
67. ↑ Nolan, Emma (March 3, 2022). "Marilyn Manson's Ex-Lover Says Evan Rachel Wood's Accusers Group Tried to Recruit Her". Newsweek. Retrieved March 3, 2022.