Thank you for visiting the Justice for Marilyn Manson website and keeping an open mind.
The first thing we must address is a trigger warning!
These cases tackle very serious allegations with at times rather graphic descriptions and are not to be taken lightly. Please exercise caution when reviewing information throughout this site as well as the lawsuits in particular as they are heavy reads.
BACKGROUND:
Brian Warner a/k/a Marilyn Manson is an international musician who has been at the center of controversy for the bulk of his career.
In Feb. 2021, multiple women came forward on social media as well as television and magazine appearances with abuse allegations. Manson faced immediate repercussions on their claims that have largely impacted his life and career. Within a matter of hours, he was dropped by his then record label as well as film projects as he expanded his career in the arts as an actor.
Multiple lawsuits were also filed against him shortly after. Extensive investigations have been held by the FBI as well as the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. To date, he’s faced no criminal charges for the sexual and human trafficking crimes within those claims.
Manson has not participated in any interviews but did release a statement:
“Obviously, my art and my life have long been magnets for controversy – but these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality. My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how – and why – others are now choosing to misrepresent the past; that is the truth.”
After a more than two year hiatus out of the public eye, Brian Warner returned to the stage as Marilyn Manson and announced a new album as well as international tour dates.
WHO ARE THE PARTIES
The biggest challenge with this tangled web is knowing where to start to unravel it as there is a lot of information to cover. This website is dedicated to helping provide some clarity as you navigate along the way.
Let’s start with a brief introduction to the different parties involved within the cases. These are names you will see repeatedly mentioned in court documents, news articles, podcast episodes and on this website.
MOST OBVIOUS:
BRIAN WARNER aka MARILYN MANSON: Rock musician who has been a controversial figure in pop culture since he arrived on the scene in the early 1990s. His artistic career has also branched out to acting and painting.
THE ACCUSERS
ASHLEY MORGAN SMITHLINE: A model/actress who had a fling with Manson in Nov. 2010. She went on to recant her allegations against Manson when she filed testimony on his behalf that she was coerced to lie.
ASHLEY WALTERS: Former personal assistant (Summer 2010 – 2011) who also worked on a 2015 tour that has claimed sexual harassment. Manson has also alleged that she breached a privacy agreement when she turned over personal information ranging from login credentials to access his private accounts to his social security number.
ESME BIANCO: A burlesque performer turned actress, most known for her role in the earlier seasons of Game of Thrones. She had a friendship that evolved into a brief romantic relationship in 2011.
EVAN RACHEL WOOD: An award-winning actress who dated Manson off and on from 2007 into 2011. Since their split, she spoke very positively about their time together until a shift occurred sometime after 2016. She is the prime focus of a two-part Phoenix Rising doc series that is currently streaming on HBO Max. Esme Bianco, Ashley Smithline and Ashley Walters also have cameos in the project.
JANE DOE: A pop singer who met Manson at a pre-Grammys party in 2011 and the dated for a short period.
BIANCA KYNE: A model and actress who is the one accuser Brian Warner denies having any form of relationship with. She shopped evolving allegations against him to tabloid outlets before filing a lawsuit in New York in 2023 and later Louisiana in 2024 on claims dating back to the 90s.
ASSOCIATED PARTY
ASHLEY ILLMA GORE: An artist who dated Evan Rachel Wood and worked as an activist at Wood’s since-closed nonprofit organization. In March 2022, she was named as co-defendant in a lawsuit Manson filed against the two for intentional infliction of emotional distress — alleging a conspiracy that includes claims of fraud, identity theft, swatting and more.
Listen to a podcast episode walking through Gore’s personal background and her actions against Manson, here.
WHAT AND WHERE ARE THE CASES?
CIVIL LAWSUITS
ASHLEY MORGAN SMITHLINE v. MANSON: Filed in June 2021 covering abuse allegations as well as a claim of human trafficking as she traveled from Thailand to LA to meet with Manson to discuss a film project. She voluntarily dropped her claims and her case was dismissed on Jan. 3, 2023. She has gone on to become a witness for Manson in multiple cases.
ASHLEY WALTERS v. MANSON: Filed in Spring 2021 and later dismissed with prejudice in Spring 2022 over failure to argue enough facts to overcome the statute of limitations. Her case was revived on appeal in late 2023 and remains active in Los Angeles.
ESME BIANCO v. MANSON: Filed in Spring 2021 tackling abuse allegations as well as a claim of human trafficking as Manson hired Bianco for a music video that involved traveling from the UK to LA. Her case was amended three times in federal court before coming to an end in Jan. 2023 when they reached an undisclosed settlement agreement.
JANE DOE v. MANSON: Filed in Spring 2021 on abuse allegations. Lawsuit was dismissed in Sept. 2021 but the judge granted her 20 days to make edits and re-file. She did so and the case was just about to hit trial in Oct. 2023 when a settlement was reached one week prior.
MANSON v. GORE AND WOOD: Filed in Spring 2022 alleging a conspiracy that involves allegedly circulating a fake FBI letter, hacking, impersonation online and swatting as well as defamation over false claims of child pornography. Both Gore and Wood filed anti-slapp motions to dismiss select portions as protected “free speech” and the LA Court granted these motions. In Aug. 2024, Manson filed an appeal opening brief in the Supreme Court of California seeking to overturn that ruling.
BIANCA KYNE v MANSON: Filed in Jan. 2023 in New York with Manson named in only 2/5 causes of action. The primary defendants are Interscope and Nothing Records — who were never served — on claims as far back as 1995. In Summer 2023, Kyne filed a second lawsuit in Louisiana.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
LOS ANGELES:
- Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Dept. launched an investigation that included a raid on Manson’s private residence with multiple devices and hard drives seized in Nov. 2021.
- The Sheriff’s Dept. concluded their 19-month long investigation and turned it over to the District Attorney’s office in Sept. 2022 for consideration on whether any charges would be filed.
- In Sept. 2024, District Attorney George Gascon announced his office was reviewing new evidence.
- No charges have been filed to date.
FBI:
- According to court documents, multiple accusers have sat for interviews with the FBI in numerous states.
- Interviews were also held with the FBI relating to the forged document linked to Evan Rachel Wood and Ashley Illma Gore.
- No criminal charges have been filed to date.
MUCH MORE INFORMATION
Find a comprehensive master timeline that walks through the various relationships, allegations and cases.