Marilyn Manson has withdrawn his defamation lawsuit against his former fiancée, Evan Rachel Wood, and will pay her $327,000 in legal fees.
The lawsuit followed accusations made by the actress, who alleged that Manson subjected her to sexual assault, psychological abuse, violence, coercion, and intimidation. Manson denied the claims and filed a defamation lawsuit against her.
In 2021, Wood publicly accused her former partner on social media of “horrific” abuse, also claiming he groomed her when she was a teenager. Following her statement, other women came forward with similar allegations.
Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, described the accusations as a “horrible distortion of reality” and filed his lawsuit against Wood in March 2022, citing defamation and emotional distress.
However, the shock rock musician has now dropped the case and agreed to pay Wood $327,000, according to Deadline.
In a statement, Wood’s legal said that as the lower court correctly determined, his claims were baseless; Mr Warner’s decision to permanently abandon his lawsuit and pay Ms Wood nearly $327,000 in fees confirms this.
A judge had previously ruled against Manson’s case in 2023, ordering him to pay around $500,000 in legal fees. Manson appealed the decision, but this effort now appears unsuccessful following his decision to withdraw the lawsuit.
Wood and Manson began their relationship in 2005 when she was 18 and he was 36. They were together for five years, which included a brief engagement.
A representative for Evan Rachel Wood told Rolling Stone that Manson’s lawsuit was a publicity stunt to try to undermine the credibility of the many women who have accused him and to revive his faltering career. They also emphasised that his attempt to silence and intimidate Evan Rachel Wood has failed.
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Source: ANA-MPA
