Marilyn Manson Drops Defamation Lawsuit Against Evan Rachel Wood
The long-running legal battle between Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood has finally concluded. After years of accusations and counter-accusations, Manson has decided to drop his defamation lawsuit against Wood.
The Core of the Dispute
The dispute stemmed from allegations made by Wood and other women against Manson, accusing him of sexual assault and abuse. Manson, in turn, filed a defamation lawsuit against Wood, alleging that she had conspired with her friend, Illma Gore, to fabricate these accusations.
The Allegations and the Lawsuit
Manson claimed that Wood and Gore had pressured women to come forward with false accusations against him, including the allegation that he had filmed the sexual assault of a minor in a 1996 short film. He argued that these accusations were part of a larger scheme to damage his reputation and career.
The Court’s Ruling and the Settlement
In 2022, a court dismissed Manson’s defamation claims against Wood, citing a law that allows for the early dismissal of lawsuits based on protected speech. The court found that Manson had failed to prove that Wood had agreed with Gore’s allegedly defamatory statements or that she was aware of Gore’s plans to defame him.
Despite appealing the court’s decision, Manson ultimately decided to settle the lawsuit. As part of the settlement, he agreed to pay Wood approximately $327,000 in legal fees.
The Aftermath and Public Statements
Both sides have released statements regarding the settlement. Manson’s lawyer, Howard King, stated that Manson was pleased to drop the lawsuit and move on. Wood’s lawyer, Michael Kump, characterized the lawsuit as a “publicity stunt” and emphasized that the court had found Manson’s claims to be meritless.
