Marilyn Manson has reportedly decided to drop his defamation lawsuit against actress Evan Rachel Wood. This decision ends a legal battle that has lasted over two years. The development comes after a lengthy dispute involving serious allegations, with both parties reportedly reaching a settlement. The specific details of the agreement remain unclear.
Here is more about Manson’s lawsuit against Wood.
Marilyn Manson is reportedly no longer suing Evan Rachel Wood
Marilyn Manson has officially dropped his defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood, ending a two-year legal battle. The two parties reached a settlement on November 19, 2024, with Manson agreeing to pay Wood approximately $327,000 to cover her legal fees. After years of legal contention, Manson, through his attorney, expressed relief in closing this chapter.
In response, Wood’s representative made a pointed statement. They described Manson’s lawsuit as a calculated attempt to damage her credibility and distract from the accusations against him. The statement added: “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.” (via People)
The legal battle began in March 2022, following Wood’s public accusations that Manson had sexually abused her during their relationship, which started when she was 18. Manson, in his lawsuit, had claimed that Wood and her partner, Illma Gore, had orchestrated false accusations against him, including fabricating evidence. This defamation suit was part of a larger group of allegations made by at least 15 women. All the 15 women accused Manson of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
Wood, who had previously spoken out about abuse in 2016 and advocated for survivors’ rights in a U.S. Congressional testimony, named Manson as her abuser in early 2021. Her allegations included claims of being assaulted during the filming of a music video, an experience she described as traumatic and unprofessional.