A little over a year after Evan Rachel Wood accused her former fiancé, Marilyn Manson, of sexual abuse, the musician is suing her for defamation, emotional distress and “impersonation over the internet,” among other charges.
In a complaint filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday, Manson — whose real name is Brian Warner — accuses the actress and friend Illma Gore, of casting Warner “as a rapist and abuser — a malicious falsehood that has derailed Warner’s successful music, TV, and film career.” It goes on to describe “a conspiracy” the two women allegedly concocted to take Warner down.
Wood and Gore both appear at the center of Phoenix Rising, a documentary slated to premiere on HBO on March 15th. The film, directed by Amy Berg, chronicles Wood’s accusations against Warner, beginning with how they met when she was a teenager up through her decision to name him as her alleged abuser publicly.
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Warner’s lawsuit claims Wood and Gore impersonated an FBI agent to give the appearance that a federal investigation into Warner’s alleged crimes was ongoing. They allegedly sent letters from this agent to women who would later make public allegations against Warner to suggest that they were in danger. Warner also claims that Wood and Gore “provided checklists and scripts to prospective accusers, listing the specific alleged acts of abuse that they should claim against Warner” and that they made false statements to these women “including the defamatory claim that Warner filmed the sexual assault of a minor.”
The suit also claims that Gore attempted to obtain Warner’s login information and hacked into computer, phone, and email. She allegedly created fake email account to claim Warner was sending people pornography and that she “swatted” Warner (sending police to look into the artist under a false pretense) after Wood came forward with her allegations.
Warner is seeking unspecified damages from Wood and Gore — “an amount to be determined at trial” — and an injunction against them.
Neither Gore nor representatives for Wood or HBO immediately replied to requests for comment.
“This detailed complaint has been filed to stop a campaign of malicious and unjustified attacks on Brian Warner,” Howard King, Warner’s attorney, said in a statement. “Years after the end of Evan Rachel Wood’s long-term relationship with Warner, she and her girlfriend Illma Gore recruited numerous women and convinced them to make false allegations against him — claims that Wood and Gore scripted for them. … Even though HBO and the producers have been made aware of these serious acts of misconduct, they have thus far chosen to proceed without regard for the facts. But the evidence of wrongdoing by Wood and Gore is irrefutable – and this legal action will hold them to account.”
The story is developing.
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