On Tuesday, a California court dismissed Marilyn Manson’s lawsuit against his ex-fiancee, “Westworld” actress Evan Rachel Wood, alleging she manufactured public claims that he sexually and physically assaulted her and urged other women to do the same.
Last year, Manson sued Wood and Illma Gore for defamation, emotional suffering, and derailing his music, TV, and film career. It claims they used a fake FBI letter to persuade additional women to accuse Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, of sexual assault and trained them on what to say.
Wood denies fabricating the FBI letter, which Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Teresa A. Beaudet rejected. Beaudet also dismissed a claim that Wood and Gore gave additional women an iPad checklist to make Manson abuse accusations.
The judge did not rule on the FBI letter, but determined that the defendants used it to recruit other women and harm Manson was speculative and weak. Beaudet also found no proof that Wood and Gore produced the checklist. She doubted Manson would win either way.
Manson’s lawsuit claimed his ex-fiancee Evan Rachel Wood lied about his sexual and physical assault.
Beaudet’s judgment relied on California law protecting defendants’ free speech from litigation.
“We are very pleased with the Court’s ruling, which affirms and protects Evan’s fundamental First Amendment rights,” said Wood’s attorney Michael Kump. “As the Court correctly found, Plaintiff failed to show his claims against her have even minimal merit.”
Manson’s attorney intends to appeal immediately.
“The ruling is disappointing but not unexpected,” Manson’s attorney Howard King said in an email. “The Court telegraphed this outcome when it refused to consider the bombshell sworn declaration of former plaintiff Ashley Smithline, which detailed how Evan Rachel Wood and Illma Gore systematically pressured women to make false claims about Brian Warner.”
The judge denied Wood’s move to dismiss further claims that the defendants intentionally caused Manson mental anguish. The other portions allege that the ladies hacked Manson’s email, phone, and social media accounts, constructed a fake email to prove he was sending illegal pornography, and “swatted” him by calling police to his residence.
Recently, several women have sued Manson for sexual and other abuse. Esme Bianco’s action was dismissed or settled.
Police and prosecutors had investigated Manson for over two years. Prosecutors requested additional investigative evidence in September before charging him. The women are unknown.
Unless they come forward, the AP does not name sexual assault victims.
In 2017, during the #MeToo movement, Wood revealed she had been raped and mistreated, and in 2018, she spoke to a congressional committee without naming anybody. In February 2020, Wood said on Instagram that Manson “horrifically abused me for years.” In 2007, they announced their relationship, and in 2010, they were engaged before splitting. In March, HBO aired an accusation documentary.
Manson’s complaint claims that Wood had only good things to say about Manson and didn’t mention his abuse for 10 years until she met Gore, an artist who was Wood’s on-again, off-again boyfriend.
