Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has defended his friendship with Marilyn Manson, despite the sexual misconduct allegations against him in recent years. Corgan discussed his relationship with Manson in an interview with Popcast.
Corgan addressed how he has handled his friendship with Manson during the controversy. He explained that as a Christian, he believes in standing by friends while also holding his own opinions about them.
“I think that ultimately, as a Christian person… you have to stand by your friends, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have an opinion, and that doesn’t mean you’re not critical,” Corgan said.
He went on to describe his knowledge of the legal case against Manson and why he did not believe the allegations were founded.
“In his case, and I’m not here to adjudicate it, but the DA looked at the case for five years. In some cases, I knew personal things behind the scenes that are not in the public sphere. I personally didn’t feel that he was guilty of the things he was being charged with, and ultimately, the fact that the DA didn’t pursue it,” he said.
“So, basically, the person that I knew and the way it all kind of went down, even though it was an elongated process, was commensurate with the person that I knew. You know what I mean? It’s like, it all kind of lined up. But, I wasn’t there. I can’t be there for everything.”
Corgan stressed that he should have the freedom to choose his own friends without outside pressure.
“But I guess it’s one of those things where I don’t want the world to tell me who my friends are and who I should associate with. That’s politically, socially, and in Brian’s case [Manson’s real name is Brian Warner], we have a relationship that goes back close to 30 years.”
He also explained that Manson is connected to the Smashing Pumpkins circle through family ties.
“The other thing that people should know, and it may gets lost in the gloss here is Manson’s wife Lindsay is a twin. And her twin is Ashley, and Ashley’s married to James Iha of the Pumpkins. So, Manson’s basically a part of our family — there’s a deeper set of relationships there. Plus, I knew Manson’s parents.”
Corgan acknowledged the weight of the accusations but maintained that his own assessment of the situation led him to stand by Manson.
“So, I think anybody in that situation struggles with… the seriousness of the accusations, but again, I also knew the inside baseball of the case. I knew certain people who are involved, and so you make those evaluations. At the end of the day, I feel I made the right determination, but if things had come out… Like, people would ask me privately, ‘Well, what happens if…’ and I’d say, ‘If he’s guilty, or anybody in that situation is guilty, they should go to jail.'”
Corgan made his comments as Manson continues to face legal and professional challenges following the allegations of sexual misconduct. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman’s defense of his long-standing friendship reflects the complexity of maintaining personal relationships during public controversies.
The allegations against Manson began in 2021 when Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood accused him of psychological and sexual abuse. More than a dozen other women came forward with similar accusations. Manson has denied all claims, stating that his intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual.
Following a four-year review by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, prosecutors determined that the statute of limitations had expired in Manson’s domestic violence case. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the office could not prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt. Two of Manson’s civil lawsuits were settled out of court, another was recanted by his accuser, and two cases remain ongoing.
Corgan and Manson’s friendship dates back to the late 1990s, when Corgan served as an unofficial consultant for Manson’s band during the development of the 1998 album Mechanical Animals. The two had not spoken for roughly 15 years after Manson became upset over a letter Corgan wrote warning him about his relationship with actress Rose McGowan. They recently re-established contact after their long separation.
The family connection runs deep through their spouses. Manson married Lindsay Usich in 2020, and her twin sister Ashley is married to James Iha, a guitarist and co-founder of the Smashing Pumpkins. This shared family bond strengthens the ties between Corgan and Manson beyond their decades-old friendship.
