Falling In Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke has explained his decision to support Marilyn Manson during the period when the shock rock musician faced public accusations of sexual abuse, saying he related to being accused of things he did not do. Radke shared his thoughts in comments via Rock Feed.
The interviewer asked Radke about his role in bringing Manson back into public view at a time when his team had left him and many had turned away from him following the allegations.
Question: “So, I want to talk about Marilyn Manson. Obviously, he has been through all this controversy over the last several years. Everyone sort of turned on him. His whole team left and all of that. They’re back. And in that moment though, when it was still going on, you made a decision and you sort of had a big part in bringing him back.”
“I wouldn’t take full credit for bringing him back, but I was fearless,” Radke said. “I don’t give a nobody wanted to f*ck with him, you know, but f*ck that. He’s a legend.”
Radke then explained his personal connection to Manson’s situation. “Well, he did this and that. I see a lot of Marilyn of me and Marilyn Manson when it comes to being accused of things that I didn’t do and it pisses me the f*ck off. And now I’m getting actually mad. But it makes me so mad, bro. I related so hard to him. You know, dude, the f*cker is not perfect, but guess what? America made Marilyn Manson and America now wants to take away Marilyn Manson.”
“That’s not how this works,” he continued. “You aren’t you’re not God. You know, you don’t get to create and take. It’s like you created this person and like and you know, he’s a shock rock guy and he’s always been that way. He was a drug addict and he’s sober now and he made some mistakes but like the shit that you’re saying he did he didn’t do you know and I believe that.”
Radke said he had faced backlash for his public defense of Manson. “I don’t give a what anybody says they need to leave him the alone and when I talk about him online a lot of people attack me. Why aren’t you so mad that I put the song out you never say anything about that why is the song so good that’s okay you know what I mean you know. He’s a legend. He’ll always be a legend and he made some really terrible choices as a drug addict just like me, but like you’re not going to sit here and tell me something I didn’t do, you know? And that’s where I related to him on a deeper level.”
Radke added that his own experience with false accusations had shaped his view. “And I was a fan of Marilyn Manson obviously like everyone else was. But I related because you know I’ve been accused of things I never did, you know, and that’s why I’m still here because I think that’s what Marilyn Manson loved about me is because he would see me defend myself instead of waiting for a lawyer to say something.”
Radke made these comments while discussing his decision to stand by Manson publicly during the controversy. The remarks show Radke’s perspective on how he saw the allegations against Manson and why he chose to support him.
Manson’s public troubles began in February 2021 when actress Evan Rachel Wood accused him of abuse. Four other women came forward with similar allegations. Following these accusations, Manson’s U.S. record label Loma Vista stopped promoting his work, his talent agency Creative Artists Agency dropped him, and his longtime manager Tony Ciulla ended their working relationship.
The partnership between Radke and Manson took shape in January 2025, when Radke was photographed at Manson’s birthday party. The collaboration, titled “God Is a Weapon,” is a power ballad featuring the line “If God is a woman/Then God is a weapon.” The song generated significant backlash given Manson’s legal history. In January 2025, Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco agreed to resolve her claims against Manson to move on with her life and career.
Radke himself has faced legal challenges throughout his life. In May 2006, he was involved in a deadly Las Vegas brawl where he was initially charged with murder, but the district attorney declined to prosecute that charge. He pleaded guilty to battery with substantial bodily harm and possession of brass knuckles, and later served two and a half years in prison after violating probation. In 2015, a woman accused Radke of assault following a Falling in Reverse performance, but police found no evidence to support the claim.
Regarding Manson’s legal situation, prosecutors decided he would not face sexual assault or domestic violence charges in Los Angeles following a four-year investigation. Prosecutors stated they could not prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt. More than six months after releasing “God Is a Weapon,” Radke and Manson performed the song together live at Knotfest Mexico, with Manson joining Radke on stage.
