In 2022, actress Evan Rachel Wood released a two-part documentary, “Phoenix Rising,” where she told her story of domestic violence and her campaign for justice against shock rocker Marilyn Manson. Wood named Manson as her abuser in 2021 which led to several other women coming forward with similar claims. Manson responded with a defamation lawsuit against Wood and her friend Illma Gore claiming emotional distress and defamation.
Rolling Stone has now reported that Manson has dropped the suit and has agreed to pay Wood’s roughly $327K in attorneys’ fees.
“Marilyn Manson filed a lawsuit against Ms. Wood as a publicity stunt to try to undermine the credibility of his many accusers and revive his faltering career. But his attempt to silence and intimidate Ms. Wood failed,” Wood’s representatives. “As the trial court correctly found, Warner’s claims were meritless. Warner’s decision to finally abandon his lawsuit and pay Ms. Wood her full fee award of almost $327,000 only confirms as much.”
Manson played his first live shows in five years this past summer and earlier this month released a new album, “One Assassination Under God — Chapter 1.”
“One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 is the first half of my story,” Manson commented on social media. “These songs were conjured from purgatory, and are as raw as a row of broken teeth that slightly resemble a smile. My art is what I live for. This album means to me exactly what I choose it to mean. I hope when you listen it is the same for you.”
