Evan Rachel Wood has responded to news that Marilyn Manson won’t face domestic abuse and sexual assault charges following a four-year investigation. Manson (real name Brian Warner) and Wood were romantically involved from 2007 to 2010, becoming engaged before breaking up. In 2021, Wood publicly accused Manson of sexual assault, psychological abuse, and physical abuse, with more than another dozen women following suit. For the last four years, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has been investigating allegations against the musician (details surrounding the investigation – and precisely what allegations it focused on – have not been made public).
On Friday, January 24, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman commended “the courage and resilience of the women who came forward,” but his office would not move forward with charges as “allegations of domestic violence fall outside of the statute of limitations, and we cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt.” On her private Instagram page (via PEOPLE), Wood issued a response that same day, sharing with her followers:
“My lawyer and I were advised by the Deputy District Attorneys and the Sheriff deputies who investigated the case that there was compelling evidence to support our claims, but that the statute of limitations prevents many of those crimes from being prosecuted. We always knew that the statute of limitations would be a barrier, which is why we created the Phoenix Act so that other victims wouldn’t have to experience this outcome.”
The Phoenix act, created in 2019 by Wood in collaboration with legislators and domestic violence survivors, grants those experiencing domestic violence more time to come forward – extending the statute of limitations for felony crimes from three years to five years. This legislation, which was signed into law in California in 2019, also mandates enhanced training for police officers, aiming to improve their ability to recognize and assist domestic violence survivors.
“Unfortunately, the Phoenix Act cannot help in cases which occurred before it was passed, but I hope this shines a light on why it’s so important to advocate for better laws. Evidence of violent crimes should not have an expiration date. I am grateful for the work law enforcement has done, and I am endlessly proud of all the survivors who risked everything to protect others by speaking the truth.”
Evan Rachel Wood, Esmé Bianco, and the Accusations Against Marilyn Manson
Manson and Wood began their romantic relationship in 2007, when she was 19 and he was 38. The two broke up shortly after becoming engaged in 2010. Six years after their split, Wood shared that she had previously been raped by a “significant other.” In February 2021, she accused Manson of sexual assault, psychological abuse, and physical abuse during their relationship. In 2022, Manson sued Wood for defamation, emotional distress, and other claims, claiming that the Westworld actress and her partner had coerced other women into making false accusations against him. That same year, Wood participated in HBO’s Phoenix Rising, a two-part documentary where she shared her experience with domestic violence and her journey towards justice. Manson dropped his lawsuit in 2024.
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In total, sixteen women have made accusations against the musician and actor, with four suing him for sexual assault. Among them is Game of Thrones star Esmé Bianco, who filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging sexual assault, abuse, and battery (that case was settled out of court). In a statement to the Associated Press, Bianco (who was part of the criminal investigation) said that she was “disappointed by the decision of the District Attorney” but “sadly not surprised:”
“Once again, our justice system has failed survivors. Not the individual prosecutors and detectives who worked for years on this case, but the system that made them do so with one hand tied behind their collective backs.”
As expected, Manson is “very pleased” with the outcome. His attorney, Howard King, released a statement expressing that sentiment and proclaiming Manson’s innocence.
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