In a recent ruling, Marilyn Manson has been instructed by the Los Angeles County Superior Court to pay actress Evan Rachel Wood $326,956.
This amount is to cover the legal expenses Wood incurred while defending against defamation and emotional distress claims Manson previously filed against her. Judge Teresa A. Beaudet, who presided over the case, approved the payment after reducing it from the nearly $388,000 initially requested by Wood.
The reduction was made following the singer’s legal team’s argument that some billed hours were too vague. In May 2023, Judge Beaudet dismissed several claims from Manson’s lawsuit, stating Wood’s allegations, including rape, torture, and threats, were protected under the First Amendment.
Despite this decision, the rocker’s legal struggles are far from over. His lawsuit against Wood and her friend Illma Gore, accusing them of a conspiracy to damage his career, is still pending. Specific allegations, including hacking and a ‘swatting’ incident, remain unresolved, with a trial set for May 1.
Wood’s Accusations Against Manson
Wood, who dated Manson from 2006 to 2010, accused him of abuse in 2021, claiming he groomed and severely mistreated her starting when she was 19. Manson has denied these allegations, labeling them as grossly distorted.
In March 2022, Marilyn initiated the primary lawsuit, claiming that Wood and her friend Illma Gore plotted to portray him publicly as a rapist and abuser. He argued that this false and harmful narrative severely disrupted his career in music, television, and film.
Wood’s Legal Cost Claims Against Manson
Later, in July 2023, it was reported that Wood requested Manson to pay $387,813.67 to cover her legal expenses. This amount included $346,470 for attorney fees, $9,193 for additional costs, $22,000 for preparing her current legal motion, and an anticipated $10,000 for future expenses, as stated in court documents.
Additionally, Manson faces other legal challenges. In December, a lawsuit filed by his former personal assistant, Ashley Walters, alleging sexual assault and harassment, was revived in appeals court. Manson also settled a lawsuit in September filed by an anonymous individual who accused him of rape and other offenses between 2010 and 2013.
