Marilyn Manson Won’t Face Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Charges, DA Says
Shock rocker Marilyn Manson will not face any sexual assault or domestic violence charges following a years-long investigation into his alleged crimes, the Los Angeles County District Attorney said on Friday.
DA Nathan Hochman said that his office, along with detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, had completed a four-year investigation into allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault made against Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner. They concluded the allegations of domestic violence fell outside of the statute of limitations. Charges of sexual assault could not be proved 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,” Hochman said. “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.”
Manson has denied all allegations against him.
“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,” Manson’s attorney, Howard King, said in a statement to the AP.
Marilyn Manson accuser Esmé Bianco responds to DA’s decision
While the DA did not disclose the names of the women who said Manson abused them, Game of Thrones actor Esmé Bianco has identified herself as one of his accusers. In a statement shared on Instagram, she said she was “deeply disappointed” by the DA’s decision but “sadly not surprised.”
“Within our toxic culture of victim blaming; our 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,” she wrote. “Once again, our justice system has failed survivors.”
Bianco added that she would continue to “fight for justice reform” and work to expose “the dark realities of intimate partner abuse.” She urged other survivors to not be discouraged by the DA’s decision.
“Our culture needs your love, compassion, and bright light now more than ever,” she wrote. “That is the truth.”
How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
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