While shock rocker Marilyn Manson fostered a controversial reputation for much of his career, he has remained a particularly divisive figure since 2021. It was early into that year when his ex-fiancée Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused him of abusing her during their relationship that took place around the late half of the aughts.
Over a dozen women came forward against Manson in the weeks after Wood‘s allegations, a number of whom filed civil lawsuits against him, alleging sexual assault, abuse and more. While Manson would publicly deny the claims, his career at the time came to a standstill, with his manager, label and talent agents all dropping him in response. He would file a defamation suit against Wood and her associates in response, which after multiple setbacks, he eventually withdrew.
In the years since, Manson has resolved three of those suits, reaching a settlement with Esmé Bianco over sexual assault, etc. claims, as well as another unidentified accuser who accused him of rape. An additional sexual assault, etc. lawsuit brought against Manson by Ashley Morgan Smithline was withdrawn and recanted.
As it stands now, Bianca Allaine Kyne also filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Manson over sexual assault incidents she claimed took place back in the 90s. Manson is also currently headed to a jury trial over a 2021 lawsuit filed against him by his ex-personal assistant, Ashley Walters. Walters‘ initial complaint made claims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual battery, infliction of emotional distress and the violation of several Californian civil codes against Manson for incidents she alleges took place in 2010-2011.
While a lengthy investigation was conducted by the LADA’s Sex Crimes Division into the various claims against Manson, they decided not to press charges. In early 2025, with Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated in part:
“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.”
One prominent figure in the heavy metal world has newly publicly gone to bat for Manson: Sharon Osbourne. Manson shared a video tribute to her since passed husband, heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne, at the July 05th, 2026 ‘Back To The Beginning‘ all-star tribute. He was also invited to attend Ozzy‘s private funeral.
In the most recent episode of her family’s ‘The Osbournes‘ podcast, Sharon publicly voiced support for Manson in relation to the various allegations mentioned above that have been put forth against him in recent years. Discussing Manson with her son Jack, Sharon stated [transcribed by theprp.com]:
“Manson is a great artist. I don’t care what anybody says and now I’ll get all these complaints, ‘He abuses women.’ Well, women abuse men. And you know what the thing that gets me is? Did Marilyn ever try and be light and breezy, and you know a surfer guy? No. You know what you were getting yourself into.”
She continued to say of him:
“You’re begging to get on somebody’s tour bus. You’re begging to get near them and be photographed. And then you know what? What did you expect? And the thing is, I don’t think that he did what they said. You know what I feel about Marilyn. He’s a friend and always will be. And I don’t believe half of it.
I can tell you one of the people that was suing him — major part of it — we were sat Soho House one night, and she went on the floor under the table and gave him a blowjob. He never asked for it, she just did it.”
When asked if Sharon was physically there, she said, “Yeah. And I was with [manager/film producer] Andy Gould. That’s why I’m like, ‘Hey, there’s two sides to every story here. You leave him alone.” Jack then joked, “That’s one way to end a meal,” to which his mother quipped, “Yeah, dessert.” Jack went on to say:
“Wow. At Soho House? …Watch, you’re going to get called in now. Now you’re gonna get called into the all the all the proceedings. That’s f*cking nuts.”
