On November 25, 2024, Marilyn Manson agreed to surrender his lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood and to reimburse Wood for her attorneys’ fees. Manson sued Wood in March 2022, a year after Wood publicly accused Manson of sexually abusing her during their on-again, off-again relationship that started when Wood was 18.
Manson’s lawsuit accused Wood of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress, alleging that she orchestrated a campaign to cast him as a rapist and destroy his career. Wood responded by seeking to strike the bulk of Manson’s lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which permits defendants to request early dismissal of claims that arise from the exercise of their First Amendment rights. Last year, the court granted Wood’s motion, ruling that Manson’s claims lacked merit and gutting his lawsuit. The court ordered Manson to reimburse Wood almost $327,000 in attorneys’ fees earlier this year.
Manson appealed the court’s rulings. However, this past spring, while his appeals were still pending, Manson reached out through his attorneys about settling the lawsuit. Manson initially offered to pay Wood a portion of her fees but demanded that the terms of the settlement be kept confidential and that Wood agree to make a “mutually acceptable” public statement. Wood rejected his proposal, making clear that she would never agree to any kind of confidentiality, joint statement, or discount on the fee award. Manson ultimately relented, agreeing to drop his lawsuit against Wood for good and to pay her the full fee award.
