Marilyn Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, has decided to withdraw his lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood, accusing her of orchestrating a scheme to portray him as a serial predator who had sexually assaulted multiple women. According to court documents filed earlier this month, as part of the settlement agreement, Manson will compensate the "Westworld" star approximately $327,000 in legal fees.
At the heart of the controversy were assertions that Wood and her friend Illma Gore had deceived potential accusers, urging them to come forward with sexual assault allegations against the musician by claiming that he had filmed the assault of a minor in a 1996 short film titled "Groupie."
In anticipation of the premiere of the HBO documentary "Phoenix Rising" in 2021, which delved into sexual assault allegations against Manson and Wood's advocacy for extending the statute of limitations for domestic violence cases in California, Manson, under his real name Brian Warner, filed a lawsuit against the duo. He alleged that they had recruited and coerced women to simultaneously accuse Warner of rape and abuse to propel Wood's career. To persuade the accusers, Gore purportedly informed them that the actress featured in "Groupie" was a minor during the filming, had passed away, and that Warner would face indictment if the video was disclosed, as stated in the complaint.
Last year, the court dismissed defamation claims against Wood, invoking a law allowing for the early dismissal of lawsuits stemming from protected speech. The court ruled that Manson hadn't proven that Wood concurred with Gore's allegedly defamatory statements or was aware of Gore's plot to tarnish the musician's reputation.
Despite appealing, Manson sought to resolve the lawsuit earlier this year, offering to cover a portion of Wood's legal expenses in exchange for confidentiality regarding the settlement terms and Wood's agreement to issue a mutually acceptable public statement, as stated by the actress's legal representatives. Wood declined, prompting Manson to ultimately drop the case.
"After four years of battling to speak the truth, Brian is relieved to withdraw his pending claims and appeal, seeking to bring an end to this chapter of his life," said Howard King, Manson's lawyer.
In a statement, Michael Kump, Wood's lawyer, described the lawsuit as a "publicity stunt aimed at undermining the credibility of his numerous accusers and reviving his faltering career." He added, "As the trial court rightly determined, Warner's claims were baseless. Warner's decision to ultimately abandon his lawsuit and reimburse Ms. Wood her full fee award of nearly $327,000 only reinforces this fact."
