Marilyn Manson Abandons Lawsuit Against Evan Rachel Wood, Agrees to Pay $327,000 in Legal Fees

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November 27, 2024 at 06:01 AM

Marilyn Manson has officially dropped his defamation lawsuit against actress Evan Rachel Wood and agreed to pay approximately $327,000 in legal fees. The lawsuit, initially filed in March 2022, came just before the release of Wood's documentary "Phoenix Rising," which detailed allegations of sexual abuse against the musician.

Wood's legal representatives stated that Manson (whose real name is Brian Warner) filed the lawsuit as a publicity stunt to discredit his accusers and revive his career. The court found Warner's claims to be meritless, and his attempt to silence Wood ultimately failed.

Earlier this spring, Manson attempted to settle the case by offering to pay a portion of Wood's fees in exchange for confidentiality. Wood rejected this offer, refusing to agree to confidentiality terms. Subsequently, Warner agreed to drop the suit entirely and pay her full legal fees.

The original lawsuit alleged that Wood and co-defendant Illma Gore had impersonated FBI personnel and distributed fraudulent letters to encourage others to speak against him. These claims, including allegations that Wood orchestrated a conspiracy against him, were struck down by a judge last year.

This legal development follows Wood's 2021 Instagram post identifying Manson as her abuser, which prompted over a dozen other women to come forward with similar allegations against the musician.