Marilyn Manson Will Not Face Criminal Charges Following Years of Assault Allegations

Over the past several years, multi-platinum shock rocker Marilyn Manson (real name Brian Warner) has been embroiled in numerous legal battles related to allegations of sexual assault and abuse made by over a dozen women in 2021. Despite the wave of civil lawsuits and public accusations, the 56-year-old musician/actor will not face criminal charges.

Here’s a summary of how those civil cases have unfolded:

• Esmé Bianco reached a settlement with Manson in January 2023 after suing him for sexual assault and other claims.
• Ashley Morgan Smithline recanted her allegations and dismissed her lawsuit against Manson in February 2023.
• In September 2023, Manson settled with an unnamed woman who had accused him of sexual assault.
• A trial is tentatively set for June 2025 regarding a sexual assault lawsuit filed by Manson‘s former personal assistant, Ashley Walters.
• Bianca Allaine Kyne filed a lawsuit accusing Manson of sexually assaulting her in the mid-to-late 1990s.

These allegations followed a February 2021 statement by Manson‘s ex-fiancée, Evan Rachel Wood, who accused him of abuse during their relationship, which ended over a decade ago.

Manson has repeatedly denied the allegations, even filing a defamation lawsuit against Wood and her associate Ilma Gore. In his suit, Manson claimed they had coached other women into making false accusations, along with other claims of defamation and harassment. However, after parts of his defamation case were dismissed and he was ordered to pay significant legal fees, Manson dropped the lawsuit in November 2023.

While Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón suggested last October that criminal charges were still a possibility, no charges have been filed as of now. Gascón previously issued a statement regarding the situation:

“The LADA’s Sex Crimes Division is currently reviewing a case involving Brian Warner, aka Marilyn Manson

Experienced prosecutors from our office’s Sex Crimes Division are carefully reviewing new leads and additional evidence that continue to come to our attention from the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s investigation. New evidence has emerged within the last few weeks, adding to an already extensive case file presented to our office by the LASD.

It is our office’s responsibility to ensure that we have a complete picture of the admissible evidence available before making a filing decision. Senior staff members have met with victims, and our prosecutors continue to remain in contact with the victims and their representatives throughout this process. We are committed to making sure they are treated with dignity and respect.

I have received requests from victims to meet personally to discuss the case, however, as the case is being investigated it would be inappropriate for me, as District Attorney, to meet with victims during this time. We anticipate making a filing decision soon and will provide an update when that time comes. At that time, I look forward to meeting with the victims to discuss how my office can continue to support them.”

Nathan Hochman, the successor to former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, announced today (January 24th) that after a four-year investigation, his office has decided not to pursue criminal charges against Marilyn Manson. In a newly issued statement, Hochman addressed the matter, stating:

“LOS ANGELES – Nathan J. Hochman announced today that experienced prosecutors from the Sex Crimes Division of the District Attorney’s Office, along with detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, completed a comprehensive four-year investigation into allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault made against Brian Warner, aka Marilyn Manson. We have determined that allegations of domestic violence fall outside of the statute of limitations, and we cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt.

We recognize and applaud the courage and resilience of the women who came forward to make reports and share their experiences, and we thank them for their cooperation and patience with the investigation. While we are unable to bring charges in this matter, we recognize that the strong advocacy of the women involved has helped bring greater awareness to the challenges faced by survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. We also acknowledge and commend them for making an important contribution to extending the statute of limitations for the prosecution of domestic abuse locally and throughout the nation. Due to their efforts, victims of domestic violence have a greater voice in our criminal justice system and prosecutorial offices around the country have improved tools to hold domestic violence abusers accountable for their actions.

Despite the decision necessitated by the facts and evidence in this matter, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office remains fully committed to seeking justice for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault whenever legally possible. We encourage anyone experiencing abuse to seek support and make a report to law enforcement as quickly as possible.”

Manson‘s lawyer Howard King told Rolling Stone:

“We are very pleased that, after a thorough and incredibly lengthy review of all of the actual evidence, the District Attorney has concluded what we knew and expressed from the start — Brian Warner is innocent.”

Esmé Bianco, who settled her sexual assault lawsuit against Manson in January of 2023, said she was “deeply disappointed” by the District Attorney’s latest decision. She offered:

“Within our toxic culture of victim blaming; a lack of understanding of coercive control, the complex nature of sexual assault within intimate partnerships, and statutes of limitations that do not support the realities of healing; prosecutions face an oftentimes insurmountable hurdle. Once again, our justice system has failed survivors.

Not the individual prosecutors and detectives who worked for years on this case, but the system that made them do so with one hand tied behind their collective backs. Seven years ago when I was faced for the first time with that failure, it set me out on a journey of advocacy and activism, but with that came a very clear directive. My healing and peace could not be reliant upon the outcome of a desperately broken system.”

While addressing Manson himself, Bianco added:

“By you dragging me through hell, I discovered the unstoppable force of my own power. I learnt how strong, and brave and bold I really am. I emerged as a Phoenix from the ashes that you left of my life. You also know the truth, and may you endeavor to find peace with that.”

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