When the two-part documentary Phoenix Rising aired on HBO on March 15th and 16th 2022, I saw it and immediately wrote my review of part two, having already written my review of part one when I saw its premiere at Sundance over a month earlier. I didn't have much time to process it at the time, because it has a lot of information, and with limited space to write about it in a limited time, there was only so much you could address. After watching the documentary about 3 or 4 times, I realized I could easily write a book with all I had to say. Now that some time had passed since I last saw it, I just rewatched the documentary this past week on the anniversary of its premiere, and there were things that stood out to me that I didn't either capture a year ago or didn't have enough knowledge at the time to better comprehend. I will try to summarize my thoughts and observations into a list of ten things I wanted to address, though it could easily be more than ten, choosing five t
Marilyn
Manson and Evan Rachel Wood began dating in January 2007 following his
divorce with Dita Von Teese on December 29, 2006. In October 2008 they
broke up, though both indicated a possibility of coming back together in
the future, but cited their separation as taking place because they
chose to focus on their careers away from each other. They both
reportedly dated other people during their time apart.
In early November 2008 Evan issued the following two statements about her breakup with Marilyn Manson:
1. In early November 2008 People magazine
featured a short article titled "Evan Rachel Wood Defends Marilyn
Manson Breakup", where she responded to false claims being circulated
concerning their break up, such as Marilyn Manson kicking out of his
guest house Evan's brother Ira who supposedly overstayed his welcome, and for being
controlling and emotionally abusive in their relationship. She
explained:
"Manson and I both decided to take some time apart so we could
concentrate on work. Someone used that opportunity to kick us while we
were down and sell a completely false story. Manson owns the house he lives in. My brother has never stayed there and
the person that said such horrible things about Manson being
‘controlling’ and 'emotionally abusive' is certainly no source ‘close’
to me. Manson has been by my side and taken care of
me through the best and worst times. I love him as a person and as an
artist. I will always be proud to have been a part of that. If
any more attacks are made on us, it is the act of a desperate, selfish
person, who is angry to no longer be a part of my life. No further
comment will be made and we request our privacy at this time."
2. Us Magazine interviewed Evan on November 9, 2008 at the Hamilton Life Behind the Camera Awards in
Hollywood, asking about her break up with Marilyn Manson:
"I’m always going to love him and respect him,” she told them.
Asked how she is feeling, she told reporters, “I’m doing fine, you know, as best as can be expected.”
She denied reports that they called it quits after Manson kicked her brother Ira out of his guest house.
“You know, it’s not the nasty thing everybody thinks it is,” she said. “We’ve both got incredible things going on right now. He’s making an amazing album – I’ve heard some of it, and he should be very proud of it. You know, I’ve got The Wrestler going on, and I’m focusing on that,” she added.
Of the split, she said, “It’s not a bad thing. It’s life – it happens. But now, it’s like the story that comes right after the breakup: Who am I dating now?” she said. “So right now, I’m just enjoying being on my own. It’s just not in the cards right now.”
Concluding Remarks:
Following
their first breakup in October 2008, Evan had nothing negative to say
about her relationship with Manson. In fact, when she would be asked
if there was a possibility of them getting back together, she would
tell reporters that there was a possibility, though there were no plans
to do so. She would further defend her relationship with Manson and give
clarification to reports that Manson was controlling and emotionally
abusive by emphatically denying any such claims.
The two would have a brief reunion in February 2009.
