Brian Warner, better known as Marilyn Manson, has been one of the most shocking figures in music over the course of his career. His theatrical performances and controversial persona were known and his career thrives on shock value.
But there are troubling allegations that recently emerged outside of the glamour and chaos. These claims, explored in the Channel 4 documentary Marilyn Manson: Shed new light, unmasked, offered us a more detailed understanding of his darker parts.
On August 9, two-part documentary looks inside the life of Manson from his meteoric rise as ‘Antichrist Superstar’ to his bitter emotional woes. The testimonies come from those who have accused him of being seriously misbehaved.
These allegations have been led by actress and Manson’s former partner Evan Rachel Wood. She said Manson, 37 when they started dating her at 18, manipulated and beat her for years.
But in 2021, she publicly accused Manson of ‘horrifically abusing me for years.’ And she previously testified before a congressional committee that she’d been raped and abused but not named her alleged abuser.
Wood’s accusations set the floodgates open for others to come out with their own. They complained of being s3xually assaulted, psychologically manipulated, and abused in any number of ways related to Manson’s behavior.
Actress Esmé Bianco was one of the stars most prominent in suing the Manson, claiming he violated human trafficking laws by bringing her to California under false pretenses. Bianco told the AP she suffered abuse while she worked for the musician.
It’s been a legal and professional blowout for Manson. His record label, Loma Vista Recordings, dropped him and he severed ties with his talent agency Creative Artists Agency.
There were multiple lawsuits after that, many of them alleging yet more disturbing patterns of abuse and control. Some cases are settled and others are not and still impact on Manson’s reputation.
Marilyn Manson: In Unmasked, we examine these allegations and hear from accusers including testimonies from within the Manson clan. The documentary revisits the rise to fame of Manson and the cultural impact of his, and his band’s, controversial artistry.
The documentary also features former fans and associates who each tell unsettling anecdotes in addition to Wood. A fan, Jennifer Pavao, said she got inappropriate messages from Manson, and saw bizarre behaviour at his shows.
Manson has always denied all allegations and said his relationships were consensual. Some of the claims were called ‘demonstrably false’ and ‘fabricated’ by his attorney.
The ongoing legal battles and public scrutiny have taken their toll, but he has denied it. Since, former collaborators have distanced themselves from Manson.
The most important moment was in November of 2024 when Manson withdrew his defamation suit against Evan Rachel Wood. In a potential turnabout in the lengthy legal feud, he also agreed to pay her $327,000 in legal fees.
Marilyn Manson: Unmasked presents the very unnerving narrative of his accusers, aforementioned, giving them a platform to speak out. Finally, the documentary finishes with its own analysis of the allegations and of the cultural position of Manson’s ascent and descent.
What viewers are forced to digest is a reminder that there is a tension between art, fame and accountability. But the question is left for the audience to ponder whether that US Superstar persona was actually one of performance or a much darker thing entirely.
Feature Image Credit: (Instagram/@marilynmanson)