Singer Marilyn Manson has suffered a significant legal defeat in her defamation case against actress Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”). In 2021, Wood sued Manson on social media for sexual abuse and domestic violence during their relationship. The musician tried to turn the tables by accusing his ex-girlfriend of defamation, but part of her charges were dismissed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Among the charges now dropped from the lawsuit are attempts by Manson and his lawyers to smear Wood’s reputation, claiming she wrote a fictitious FBI letter and prepared a sort of checklist for alleged victims to use. by Manson. To that end, Judge Teresa A. Beaudet highlighted the anti-SLAPP statute this Tuesday (9/5), which provides defendants with a way to quickly dismiss baseless lawsuits filed against them. Although the rest of the singer’s accusations may continue, the main ones are already practically defeated.
Manson’s attorney expressed disappointment with the judge’s decision, citing critical evidence that was not considered, but the final decision was made. “The decision is disappointing but not unexpected. The Court telegraphed this finding when it refused to consider former plaintiff Ashley Smithline’s affidavit, which detailed how women were systematically pressured by Evan Rachel Wood and Illma Gore for making false accusations about Brian Warner [Marilyn Manson]said attorney Howard King.
After the result, Wood celebrated the court’s decision, arguing that his freedom of expression was protected. “As the Court correctly concluded, plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that her claims against her have minimal merit,” plaintiff’s attorney, Michael Kump, told Deadline.
Since the beginning of Wood’s lawsuit against Manson, the singer has lost sales contracts and concerts. The first statements of the actress on the abuse suffered were released in 2016, in an interview with Rolling Stone. At the time, Manson’s name was not mentioned. In 2019, the actress posted a very emotional video on the subject on social networks, without declaring the singer’s name again.
When she finally nominated Manson in 2021, several other women, including actress Esmé Bianco (“Game of Thrones”), also denounced him and filed lawsuits against him. Throughout his career, the singer has faced several charges, but up to that point he had either been acquitted or had seen the cases fall apart.
The documentary “Phoenix Rising: Rising from the Ashes,” in which Wood tells her story as a survivor of domestic violence, was prominent in Manson’s libel suit against the actress. The feature premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and on HBO a few months later, despite Manson’s efforts to prevent the project from being legally released.
In Brazil, “Renascendo das Cinzas” is available in the HBO Max catalog. Watch the trailer below.
Source: Terra

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