Marilyn Manson will not be prosecuted on criminal charges of sexual assault and domestic abuse. The decision was announced on Friday, the 24th, by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who highlighted that there was insufficient evidence to support a case.
“We have determined that the allegations of domestic violence fall outside the statute of limitations, and we cannot prove allegations of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt,” Hochman stated ( via Consequence.Net ) .
He also praised the women who came forward to share their experiences: “We recognize and applaud the courage and resilience of the victims who filed reports and thank them for their cooperation and patience with the investigation.”
The accusations began in 2021 when Evan Rachel Wood accused him of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, claiming that the singer manipulated her between 2007 and 2010, when Wood was only 19 years old and began a relationship with Manson.
Wood's accusations triggered a series of similar reports from other women, who also accused Manson of abusive behavior. At the time, the singer denied all the accusations, calling them "horrible distortions of reality." In response, Manson filed a defamation lawsuit against Wood the following year.
Manson's initial offer consisted of paying a portion of Wood's legal fees in exchange for confidentiality of the agreement. Wood rejected this proposal, refusing to accept the confidentiality clause, as well as disagreeing with the other terms.
Subsequently, Manson decided to completely drop the lawsuit against Wood and agreed to pay all of the actress's legal fees ( via Rolling Stone ).
According to the lawyer representing Manson's ex-fiancée ( via Deadline ), the lawsuit filed against Evan Rachel Wood was a marketing ploy to try and undermine the credibility of the many women who accused him and to attempt to revive his career. "His attempt to silence and intimidate Ms. Wood has failed," he stated.
“As the trial court concluded, Manson’s claims were without merit, and its decision to ultimately drop his lawsuit and pay Wood the full amount of his legal fees only confirms this,” commented Wood’s defense, handled by the law firm Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP.
With Manson's decision to end the dispute, the legal battle came to an end. Although the singer returned to the stage this year, the controversies surrounding his public persona remain a recurring theme among fans who follow his career.
In November 2024, the singer released the album One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 .
