American singer Marilyn Manson has decided to drop all litigation against his ex-girlfriend, actress Evan Rachel Wood, over allegations of sexual assault.
The 55-year-old musician, whose real name is Brian Warner, had previously filed a lawsuit claiming that Wood and artist Illma Gore had conspired to damage his career by accusing him of abuse.
Manson, best known for hits like “The Beautiful People,” has now dismissed both the lawsuit and related appeal, which had been ongoing for four years.
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According to reports, Manson’s legal team also agreed to cover Wood’s legal fees, totaling $327,000, following a judge’s order earlier this year.
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Howard King, Manson’s lawyer, told TMZ that Manson was pleased to “close the door” on this chapter of his life.
“After four years of fighting a battle where he was able to tell the truth,” King said, “he is happy to dismiss his claims and move on.”
Wood’s legal team, in a statement to Rolling Stone, explained that Manson had attempted to reach a settlement during the appeal process.
However, the actress declined his offer, which would have required them to release a joint statement while keeping all terms confidential. Despite this, Manson eventually covered all of Wood’s litigation costs.
Wood’s representatives argued that Manson’s lawsuit was an attempt to “undermine the credibility” of Wood and other women who accused him of abuse.
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They stated that the lawsuit was a “publicity stunt” aimed at reviving his career. With Manson’s decision to drop the case, Wood’s legal team sees this as a confirmation that the claims against her were meritless from the start.
Manson initially filed the lawsuit in March 2022, just before the release of Wood’s HBO documentary Phoenix Rising, where she detailed her accusations of sexual and emotional abuse during their relationship between 2006 and 2010.
