Marilyn Manson (real name Brian Warner) has reportedly settled a sexual assault lawsuit with his accuser, who has remained anonymous, known as Jane Doe, a week before the scheduled trial. Rolling Stone reported a settlement was filed by Doe’s attorney, Adam Wolf, on Wednesday (27th), with a request to dismiss the case expected within 45 days. The lawsuit was initiated in 2021, where Jane Doe, claiming to be Manson’s ex-girlfriend, alleged he sexually assaulted her and received threats in June 2011.
Doe explained:
“I was fully prepared for trial and never in a million years thought I would ever settle, but over the past two-and-a-half years I have silently endured threats, bullying, harassment and various forms of intimidation that have intensified over the past few weeks,” Doe says in a statement Rolling Stone. “Marilyn Manson attended my deposition, and I was forced to answer seven hours of aggressive questioning with him staring at me from across the table. I’ve been told that this almost never happens, as it’s cruel, and that a main reason for it would be to intimidate and inflict emotional distress on a victim. I never cared about money and only ever wanted justice, but if we had gone to trial, I could have lost my right to anonymity and been victim-blamed on a large and public scale,” she adds. “Most importantly I could have risked losing the freedom to tell my story, and that is worth more than anything in the world. If any other victims are reading this,” Doe says, “please know that you are loved and supported even if it doesn’t feel that way, and that in spite of everything I’ve been through I don’t for one second regret speaking up.”
Warner’s attorney, Howard King issued the following statement:
“Brian is pleased that, just as previous lawsuits were abandoned without payment or settled for pennies on the dollar, this plaintiff has now agreed to drop her suit in exchange for an insurance payment representing a fraction of her demands and far less than the cost to Brian of proceeding to trial.”
Doe’s attorney, Wolf, shared the following:
“I am honored to have supported Ms. Doe. My law firm stands with those who bravely push back against misconduct in all forms, especially by high-profile, powerful men. We are dedicated to fighting for justice, no matter how long it takes. You are not alone.”
Despite the ongoing controversy, Manson made a social media appearance in May, hinting something was on the rise, suggesting new music. Roughly one week before Manson’s sudden social media activity, a California judge dismissed sections from the lawsuit against his ex-fiancee, Evan Rachel Wood, who had accused him of abuse during their past relationship. The lawsuit accused Wood of fabricating abuse stories and encouraging other women to do the same. The judge ultimately dismissed key sections of the lawsuit on May 9th. Meanwhile, the case between Manson and Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco settled in the wake of this year. The case by model Ashley Morgan Smithline was dismissed on January 3rd, 2023. However, the model has since recanted, alleging she succumbed to pressure from Wood and others to make false accusations against Manson. While cases have either reached a settlement, dismissed, or recanted, Rolling Stone has pointed out another Jane Doe case, alleging years of grooming and abuse when she was a minor remains active. Manson’s latest court appearance occurred earlier this month when the shock rocker received a fine and community service in a misdemeanor simple assault case involving an incident with a videographer during a 2019 concert.
