Goth rocker Marilyn Manson is not being charged over the numerous accusations of sexual assault and domestic violence, prosecutors announced Friday.
The decision not to charge “the Fight Song” singer — real name Brian Warner — followed “a comprehensive four-year investigation” by “experienced prosecutors” and detectives, new Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said.
“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,” he said.
The 56-year-old singer had been accused of rape, sexual assault and torture by at least a dozen women, starting with his former fiancée, “Westworld” actor Evan Rachel Wood.
Manson — who has been accused rape, sexual assault and torture by multiple women — will not be charged, Los Angeles County DA Nathan J. Hochman said. Getty Images“He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years,” Wood first said in an Instagram post in 2021.
Numerous other women then came forward, including “Game of Thrones” actress Esmé Bianco, who said that she “did what victims of rape are supposed to do” and “went to the police” alleging that Manson “raped and abused me over the course of our relationship.”
She said Friday that she was “deeply disappointed by the decision” not to charge him — but “sadly not surprised.”
“Once again, our justice system has failed survivors,” she wrote on Instagram of “a desperately broken system.”
Bianco — who sued Manson in a case that has been settled — told survivors of sexual violence to cling to their “truth” because “it is stronger than the bars of any prison.”
LA County sheriff’s detectives first announced in early 2021 that they were investigating Manson for incidents between 2009 and 2011 in his home in West Hollywood, which was also raided.
Manson’s former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood accused him of abuse in 2021. E. CharbonneauManson does not appear to have immediately addressed the decision. He previously sued Wood, and called her initial accusations “horrible distortions of reality.”
However, he shared an image posted by his wife, Lindsay Elizabeth Warner, of them in front of three candles with the caption: “There is light in the darkness.”
Manson’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He has previously called the allegations “provably false.”
The DA’s office “determined that allegations of domestic violence fall outside of the statute of limitations.” APThe DA said that his team “recognize and applaud the courage and resilience of the women who came forward.”
“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,” Hochman said.
“Despite the decision necessitated by the facts and evidence in this matter, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office remains fully committed to seeking justice for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault whenever legally possible,” Hochman said.
“We encourage anyone experiencing abuse to seek support and make a report to law enforcement as quickly as possible.”
