State Appellate Court Reopens Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Marilyn Manson
Last week, a state appellate court reopened a sexual abuse lawsuit filed against rock musician Marilyn Manson. The singer’s former assistant Ashley Walters filed the claim, which was previously dismissed in May 2022 due to an expired statute of limitations. According to Walters, the abuse occurred between 2010 and 2011. But Manson’s lawyers were wary, questioning “whether the plaintiff has pled facts to get around the statute of limitations.”
Walters’ initial suit against Manson was filed in 2021 and charged him with sexual harassment, sexual assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. While employed as the musician’s personal assistant, Walters says that she was forced to perform sexual acts on Manson’s various acquaintances – including renowned actors and directors.
The plaintiff allegedly suffered despicable acts of violence including beatings, over 48 hours of sleep deprivation, and was forced to consume illicit drugs like cocaine. Additionally, she was depicted in blackmail photographs wearing Nazi memorabilia. According to Walters, Manson also showed her a video in which a young female fan was forced to remove her clothing before being whipped to the point of tears. The girl was required to drink urine while threatened with a gun that was then thrust into her underwear.
In 2020, Walters sought relief through a survivor support group and began to unearth repressed memories of the abuse. She was "unable to recall many of the physical and emotional abuses until the fall of 2020 when countless repressed memories flooded back to [her] after meeting numerous other victims of [Manson] and obtaining counseling from a mental health professional."
At least six other women have sued Marilyn Manson for sexual misconduct and abuse, including his former fiancé Evan Rachel Wood. When she appeared in an HBO docuseries based on Manson’s alleged abuse, he sued her for defamation.
In September 2022, the 19-month investigation into Manson’s abuse by the LA County Sheriff's Department was turned over to District Attorney George Gascon. No clear timeline was proposed during this period.
Ashley Walters’ attorney, Dan Stormer, states that this recent reexamination of the case gives his team “complete vindication.” He remarks on the impact of Walters’ case, recognizing that a large number of similar cases are never brought forward. "The behavior and treatment of people is just egregious.”
Marilyn Manson’s attorneys did not respond to emails requesting a comment on last week’s ruling.
Authors: Alexis Kabat and Andy Goldwasser
