Marilyn Manson won’t be charged with sexual assault
Prosecutors have said there was not enough evidence to prove that the rock star had abused women
US rock star Marilyn Manson will not be charged with sexual assault and domestic violence, prosecutors in Los Angeles have announced after a four-year investigation.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman cited the legally mandated time limits and insufficient evidence as the reasons for the decision.
“We have determined that allegations of domestic violence fall outside of the statute of limitations, and we cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt,” Hochman said in a statement on Friday. “We recognize and applaud the courage and resilience of the women who came forward to make reports and share their experiences, and we thank them for their cooperation and patience with the investigation.”
Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, faced accusations from multiple women related to incidents that allegedly occurred between 2009 and 2011 in West Hollywood.
The investigation began in 2021 after actress Evan Rachel Wood, who started dating Manson in 2007 when she was 19, accused him of abuse in a social media post. Manson denied the allegations, calling them a “horrible distortion of reality.”
While the identities of the other women involved in the investigation were not disclosed, ‘Game of Thrones’ actress Esme Bianco confirmed her involvement. Bianco, who sued Manson in a case that was later settled, said she provided the authorities with “hundreds of pieces of evidence, including photos of my body covered in bites, bruises and knife wounds.” She also criticized the delays in the investigation.
“Almost four years ago, I did what victims of rape are supposed to do: I went to the police,” she said at a rally in 2024.
Wood released a short statement on social media on Friday, acknowledging that her claims exceeded the statute of limitations. “Evidence of violent crimes should not have an expiration date,” she wrote, thanking the police for the investigation.
In her lawsuit, Bianco accused Manson of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, as well as violating human trafficking laws. She claimed Manson lured her to California from England under false pretenses of offering her roles in music videos and films. Following the prosecutor’s decision, Bianco expressed disappointment, arguing that “once again, our justice system has failed survivors.”
Manson has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His attorney, Howard King, welcomed the outcome, saying, “We are very pleased that, after a thorough and incredibly lengthy review of all of the actual evidence, the District Attorney has concluded what we knew and expressed from the start – Brian Warner is innocent.”
Following Wood’s allegations, record label Loma Vista and talent agency CAA cut ties with Manson. He was also removed from several TV shows.
