New Hampshire police have published a warrant for the arrest of Marilyn Manson on two counts of simple assault, regarding an incident involving a videographer at a concert in August 2019.
A warrant for his arrest was issued in October 2019, but despite repeat notifications, Manson (whose real name is Brian Warner) had not returned to New Hampshire to answer the charges, Gilford police department chief Anthony Burpee told the New York Times. The police declined to share details of the alleged incident with the newspaper.
Howard King, a lawyer for Manson, told the NYT that a venue videographer had asked for more than $35,000 “after a small amount of spit came into contact with their arm. After we asked for evidence of any alleged damages, we never received a reply.”
He described the claim as “ludicrous” and said “we remain committed to cooperating with authorities, as we have done throughout”.
Burpee told the New York Times that the department was publicising the warrant “simply because we’ve been attempting to clear the warrant since it was issued” with no response from Manson or his representatives.
“In light of other recent allegations,” said Burpee – apparently referencing recent claims of sexual and domestic abuse made against Manson – law enforcement wanted the musician “to take care of his business” in the state “so that he and we can move forward”.
In February, Manson’s former partner, actor Evan Rachel Wood, claimed that Manson “horrifically abused” her and “started grooming me when I was a teenager”. Four other women made allegations including physical and emotional abuse, torture, rape and forced drug-taking.
In April, Game of Thrones actor Esmé Bianco sued Manson for sexual assault and sexual battery, alleging that he treated her violently when they lived together in 2011. This month, his former assistant Ashley Walters also filed a lawsuit accusing Manson of sexual assault and battery.
Manson has broadly denied the charges. In February, he responded to Wood’s claims in an Instagram post: “Obviously, my art and my life have long been magnets for controversy, but these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality. My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how – and why – others are now choosing to misrepresent the past, that is the truth.”
The special victims bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the domestic violence allegations against Manson in February. He was dropped by his record label, Loma Vista Recordings, and his appearance in an episode of fantasy drama American Gods was removed.
