Marilyn Manson suit from ex-assistant dismissed again

A sexual assault lawsuit levelled at Marilyn Manson has been dismissed once again.

• READ MORE: ‘Marilyn Manson: Unmasked’ director Karen McGann on the musician’s alleged abuse and “cult-like” following

As Rolling Stone reports, a judge dropped the sexual assault and battery suit against the singer by his former assistant, Ashley Walters, in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday (December 16).

It came ahead of a vacated trial that had been scheduled to begin next month.

The ruling said the evidence showed that Walters’ claims fell outside the statute of limitations, and could not be revived based on her argument that her memories of the alleged abuse had been suppressed.

In the hearing, Judge Steve Cochran explained: “We have a situation where the complaint was not filed until about 10 years after the operative events. I’m not able to find that the delayed discovery rule is applicable.

“I don’t have the authority to rule that the delayed discovery doctrine would apply under the circumstances that exist in this case.”

Walters worked as Manson’s assistant between 2010 and 2011. She claims that during this period, Manson (real name Brian Warner) sexually harassed her and subjected her to verbal, physical, and psychological abuse.

She filed her initial suit against Warner in 2021. However, this was dismissed in May the following year due to the statute of limitations. The lawsuit was subsequently revived following an appeal.

It is reported that Walters’ lawyer, Kate McFarlane, plans to seek an appeal of this latest dismissal, too.

After winning the motion, Warner’s lawyer Howard King said: “It’s gratifying, after all these years, that a judge can just look at the facts and see that once again, Brian Warner was wrongfully accused.

“It’s nice for him to get some justice, though it was at great personal cost. Now he can move on.”

McFarlane had argued in the hearing that Walters deserved revival of her claims because she was allegedly manipulated by Warner in a way that was similar to child sexual abuse.

“We have a young woman who was in her twenties, and her employer was in his forties. There’s an innate power dynamic,” she said.

“He’s a very well-known, high-powered celebrity with a lot of pull in the industry, a lot of clout. This was a young woman barely into her adult years being manipulated by someone with a lot of power.”

Walters had alleged sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. She had initially named Warner’s label, Marilyn Manson Records, Inc., as a co-defendant.

Warner has denied all allegations levelled at him by Walters, claiming that she and his other accusers – including his ex-fiancée, Evan Rachel Wood – were “cynically and dishonestly seeking to monetise and exploit the #MeToo movement” by launching a “coordinated attack against him”.

The musician has reached out-of-court settlements with some of his accusers, including Game Of Thrones actor Esmé Bianco. In November 2024, he dropped a defamation lawsuit he had filed against Evan Rachel Wood.

This January, prosecutors confirmed that Warner would not be facing any charges after a years-long investigation into sexual assault and domestic abuse allegations.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.

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