Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has announced that no charges will be filed against musician Marilyn Manson, 56, after a lengthy investigation into allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence. The investigation, which spanned several years, concluded that the allegations were too old to meet legal standards, and the available evidence did not meet the threshold for prosecution.
Marilyn Manson (@marilynmanson Instagram)
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has announced that no charges will be filed against Marilyn Manson after an extensive investigation into allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence. The investigation, which spanned several years, concluded that the claims were too outdated to meet legal standards, and the evidence presented was insufficient to proceed with charges. Manson’s legal team expressed satisfaction with the decision, while some accusers, like actress Esmé Bianco, voiced disappointment.
“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,” said Attorney Nathan Hochman. “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.”
The investigation was initially launched in early 2021, with detectives from the LA County Sheriff's Department examining claims regarding incidents between 2009 and 2011 in West Hollywood, where Manson lived at the time. This led to a search warrant being executed at his residence. Although the case was referred to prosecutors in September 2021, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office requested additional evidence, which delayed the final decision until now.
Howard King, Manson’s attorney, expressed relief at the conclusion of the investigation. “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,” he said in a statement.
The names of the women involved in the investigation remain confidential, but Esmé Bianco, an actress known for her role in Game of Thrones, has publicly stated that she participated in the investigation. Bianco has claimed that she suffered sexual, physical, and emotional abuse during her relationship with Manson, alleging that he trafficked her under false pretenses from England to California.
Esmé Bianco in Game of Thrones
“Almost four years ago, I did what victims of rape are supposed to do: I went to the police,” Bianco said at a rally for Hochman. “I described to them in agonizing detail how the rock musician Brian Warner — better known by his stage name Marilyn Manson — had raped and abused me over the course of our relationship.”
Bianco provided investigators with several pieces of evidence, including photographs depicting injuries such as bruises and knife wounds, as well as emails, text messages, and threats concerning her immigration status. Despite this, Bianco expressed her disappointment over the decision not to proceed with charges. “Whilst I am deeply disappointed by the decision of the District Attorney to not bring charges in the case against Brian Warner, I am sadly not surprised,” Bianco said. “Once again, our justice system has failed survivors.”
In addition to Bianco’s claims, Evan Rachel Wood, an actress and Manson's former fiancée, also publicly accused him of abuse. Wood, who was engaged to Manson in 2010, identified him as her abuser in an Instagram post in 2021. She described being groomed and abused by Manson when she was a teenager. “He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years,” Wood stated.
Manson responded to the allegations by calling them “horrible distortions of reality” and filed a lawsuit against Wood, claiming that she and another individual had fabricated accusations. However, a judge dismissed parts of the lawsuit, and Manson later withdrew the case, agreeing to cover Wood’s legal fees.
The decision not to file charges concludes a lengthy investigation into Manson’s actions, which has sparked widespread discussion about abuse in the entertainment industry.
Marilyn Manson reached the peak of his music career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly with the release of his album Antichrist Superstar (1996). This album was a major commercial success and solidified his status as a controversial and influential figure in rock and metal. Antichrist Superstar topped the Billboard Heatseekers chart and went Platinum in the US, with hits like "The Beautiful People" becoming anthems of the industrial metal genre.
His 1998 album Mechanical Animals further expanded his reach, both commercially and artistically, receiving critical acclaim and entering the mainstream. The album featured a more glam-rock-inspired sound and produced successful singles like "The Dope Show."
Manson's theatrical and often provocative stage persona, along with his outspoken views on society, politics, and religion, made him a polarising figure. His music and imagery resonated particularly with audiences looking for rebellion against mainstream culture.
While his peak commercial success occurred in the late '90s and early 2000s, Manson continued to release albums and maintain a loyal fan base through the years. However, Antichrist Superstar and Mechanical Animals remain his most iconic and impactful works.
