Manson’s accusers have no case in the absence of evidence. A federal judge dismisses Manson’s ex’s lawsuit.
In a major victory for musician Marilyn Manson, a federal judge in California recently dismissed a lawsuit brought against him by his ex-girlfriend Ashley Smithline. Smithline had claimed that Manson r*ped and emotionally abused her, and that he was not satisfied with “consensual sex.” However, after her attorney withdrew from the case in October, Smithline failed to notify the court by the December 5th deadline whether she had hired a new attorney or would be representing herself. As a result, US District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha dismissed the case without prejudice, giving Smithline the opportunity to file the lawsuit again in the future.
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Manson’s attorneys have praised Smithline for dismissing her claims against the musician “without seeking or receiving anything in return.” In a statement to Insider, attorney Howard King said, “We thank and commend Ashley Smithline for dismissing her claims against Brian Warner without seeking or receiving anything in return.” Insider reached out to Smithline for comment, but did not receive a response.
Smithline originally filed the lawsuit against Manson and his record company in June 2021, alleging sexual assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and unlawful imprisonment, as well as violations of the Bane Act and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. In her complaint, Smithline claimed that Manson (whose real name is Brian Warner) had contacted her frequently in the summer of 2010, when she was a model in Bangkok, Thailand, trying to recruit her for a film project.
Despite the dismissal of this case, Manson has faced other accusations and legal challenges in recent months. In fact, Manson has accused actress Evan Rachel Wood and artist Illma Gore of conspiring against him in a three-year-long “witch hunt” in an attempt to destroy his career and legacy. Manson’s legal team has filed a counter-motion against an anti-SLAPP motion brought by Wood and Gore, claiming that they had worked together to find dirt on Manson and to remove evidence that is damning to Wood’s case.
Michelle Meyer, Wood’s former attorney, has even backed Manson’s legal counsel.
Meyer states in an affidavit that she is a “victim of Ashley Gore a/k/a Illma Gore (‘Gore’) and Evan Rachel Wood (‘Wood’)’s unauthorized and illegal use of my phone number on a forged FBI letter.” This letter, which was widely reported as being true at the time, has since been shown to be false and fraudulent. Despite this, Wood had attempted to use an anti-SLAPP motion to have the letter and other evidence damning to Manson’s case against her removed.
Despite the efforts of Wood and Gore to discredit Manson and damage his reputation, it appears that their efforts have largely failed. The dismissal of Smithline’s lawsuit is a significant win for Manson, and it remains to be seen whether Smithline will attempt to refile the case in the future. In the meantime, Manson can focus on his music and continue to challenge the accusations made against him by Wood and Gore.
It is important to remember that all individuals, including celebrities and public figures, are innocent until proven guilty. While accusations of sexual assault and abuse should always be taken seriously, it is equally important to ensure that due process is followed and that individuals are not unfairly vilified without adequate evidence. In this case, it appears that the legal system has upheld these principles, and Manson is able to move forward with his career and his life.