As mentioned in my previous post , Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon issued a peculiar statement on October 9th updating people on the criminal investigation of Marilyn Manson by his office. In the statement it was revealed that "our office’s Sex Crimes Division are carefully reviewing new leads and additional evidence that continue to come to our attention from the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department’s investigation." He also informed us that they "anticipate making a filing decision soon and will provide an update when that time comes." The problem with this is that George Gascon is in danger of losing his position to his opposing candidate, former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman, who is running as an Independent. Los Angeles residents have realized that progressive policies on criminal justice make things worse for their city, and it appears that a change is just weeks away at the November 5th election. Will we finally be getting the
Marilyn Manson in the News (October 23 - 30) - Marilyn Manson Public Appearances, Sunday Service With Ye and Justin Bieber, Is Manson Still a 'Vampire'?, Is Manson a Christian?
Ever since Marilyn Manson made his controversial appearance alongside Ye (Kanye West) at his Donda listening event in late August 2021, he seemed to have faded back into obscurity in the midst of the allegations and legal troubles he has been facing. Over the past week, however, Manson has seemingly opened himself up to make more public appearances.
His first public appearance of this past week or so took place on October 23rd, when realtor Jarrett Sharp posted two photos on Instagram, one of himself and Ye and the other of himself and Marilyn Manson, in what seemed to be the opening of a new nightclub in New York City, though I'm not sure about this. Manson was completely covered up, including his face with a mask, sunglasses and a hat. The circumstances of Manson's trip to New York City are unknown, and though I reached out to Jarrett to get more information, he did not respond.
His first public appearance of this past week or so took place on October 23rd, when realtor Jarrett Sharp posted two photos on Instagram, one of himself and Ye and the other of himself and Marilyn Manson, in what seemed to be the opening of a new nightclub in New York City, though I'm not sure about this. Manson was completely covered up, including his face with a mask, sunglasses and a hat. The circumstances of Manson's trip to New York City are unknown, and though I reached out to Jarrett to get more information, he did not respond.
The next two appearances were posts on Instagram by Erin Sköld, wife of former Manson bandmate Tim Sköld, which showed the both of them on double dates with Marilyn Manson and and his wife Lindsay Usich. The first double date was posted on October 25th, when they all saw the movie Dune at Universal City Walk of Hollywood. Their second double date was posted on October 31st, after seeing the movie Antlers. On both double dates the four did boomerang photos and seemed to be having a good time, though we couldn't see their faces cause they were all wearing masks.
Manson's next appearance was again on Instagram, from the afternoon of Halloween on October 31st, of a photo of himself masked with Lindsay unmasked, which was provided to us through Colonel Kurtz. It looks like they just arrived at, or maybe were leaving, the place of what would be Manson's next appearance.
The next appearance also took place on October 31st, when Manson appeared alongside Ye and Justin Bieber among others of Ye's Gospel choir for a Sunday Prayer Service that was streamed live. Everyone stood in a circle dressed in white, Manson alone having his face covered the whole time. Ye sang and Justin Bieber said a prayer, while Manson stood with seeming reverence and respect throughout, slightly bopping his head during the musical numbers. At one point the three put their hands on each others shoulders with bent heads and prayed together. Bieber said a prayer in which he asked God to gather his lost sheep and dispel the powers of the demons of darkness. Then the headlines started pouring in, solely focusing on Manson's presence:
Kanye West Invites Marilyn Manson to Latest Sunday Service (TMZ)
Kanye West faces backlash for inviting Marilyn Manson to Sunday Service with Justin Bieber (The Independent)
Kanye West sparks controversy as Marilyn Manson appears on Sunday Service (NME)
Kanye West Joined By Marilyn Manson and Justin Bieber at Sunday Service Concert (Yahoo)
Marilyn Manson's appearance at Kanye West's Sunday Service leave fans upset (Republic World)
Marilyn Manson leads prayer circle with Kanye West at Sunday Service (Metro)
Kanye West shocks fans by inviting Marilyn Manson to Sunday Service along with Justin Bieber (Daily Mail)
'DOESN'T SIT RIGHT' Kanye West slammed after Marilyn Manson appears at his Sunday Service after sexual assault claims (The Sun)
Kanye West Invites Marilyn Manson to Latest Sunday Service (TMZ)
Kanye West faces backlash for inviting Marilyn Manson to Sunday Service with Justin Bieber (The Independent)
Kanye West sparks controversy as Marilyn Manson appears on Sunday Service (NME)
Kanye West Joined By Marilyn Manson and Justin Bieber at Sunday Service Concert (Yahoo)
Marilyn Manson's appearance at Kanye West's Sunday Service leave fans upset (Republic World)
Marilyn Manson leads prayer circle with Kanye West at Sunday Service (Metro)
Kanye West shocks fans by inviting Marilyn Manson to Sunday Service along with Justin Bieber (Daily Mail)
'DOESN'T SIT RIGHT' Kanye West slammed after Marilyn Manson appears at his Sunday Service after sexual assault claims (The Sun)
Marilyn Manson fans also reacted on social media, most very excited to see Manson, though surprised to find him with Ye and Bieber at a Sunday Prayer Service decked out in white from head to toe. But there was also a lot of confusion and some disappointment, since many of Manson's fans have found him and his music and his art to be an antidote to the negative impact religion had on them. For some, Manson becoming religious or even a Christian seems like a contradiction to what he stands for and has stood for over the past three decades.
With all these sudden appearances, it may be time to begin to analyze what is really going on. Whereas in the past we have had music and interviews and appearances here and there to find guidance in which direction Manson was leading us, now we can only rely on some private photos and videos and a few public appearances meant for a wider audience in which Manson's voice is never heard nor are his words even recorded anywhere.
I will begin by saying that I am just as clueless as anyone else outside of Manson's inner circle as to what is really going on. But I've been a Manson fan for a long time, so I'm going to take a few clues and run with them, but making the disclaimer that much of what I will say is pure speculation, though I will try not to go too off the deep end, since I typically hate speculating. The only reason I am doing this is because I see a lot of Manson fans are very confused, and the media seems to only have a one track mind, so since I think I can offer a broader perspective, I am offering it with care and discretion.
No Longer a Vampire
Manson never portrayed himself as a vampire before he embraced the label that was given to him years prior by others. When he released Eat Me, Drink Me in 2007, the label was not only embraced, but it stuck around for a long time. After that he started to be known as, for example, the "Vampire of Hollywood Hills", not only for how he looked, but he was also known to be a night owl staying up throughout the night and sleeping during the day, while living in cold, dark conditions. He explored dark themes, like death and violence, and seduced sexually with sirenic rhythms. Then came the accusations, the cancellations, and the seclusion in the midst of a global pandemic after he got married and released an acclaimed album. With these recent appearances which we noted above, however, I have a sense that his vampire fangs have been put on the shelf and he's become more like another Monster of Universal Studios - Frankenstein's Monster. And I'm not referring to the book necessarily, but how this Monster is portrayed in the 1930's through Universal Studios, since the book he is based on by Mary Shelley is much different.
Frankenstein was released in 1931 with no censorship rules, and Bride of Frankenstein was released in 1935 with strict censorship rules, both directed by James Whale. In between these two, in 1933, James Whale also directed another Universal Monster movie called The Invisible Man. I will assume everyone has seen these three films, and if you haven't then you should at your earliest opportunity.
With all these sudden appearances, it may be time to begin to analyze what is really going on. Whereas in the past we have had music and interviews and appearances here and there to find guidance in which direction Manson was leading us, now we can only rely on some private photos and videos and a few public appearances meant for a wider audience in which Manson's voice is never heard nor are his words even recorded anywhere.
I will begin by saying that I am just as clueless as anyone else outside of Manson's inner circle as to what is really going on. But I've been a Manson fan for a long time, so I'm going to take a few clues and run with them, but making the disclaimer that much of what I will say is pure speculation, though I will try not to go too off the deep end, since I typically hate speculating. The only reason I am doing this is because I see a lot of Manson fans are very confused, and the media seems to only have a one track mind, so since I think I can offer a broader perspective, I am offering it with care and discretion.
No Longer a Vampire
Manson never portrayed himself as a vampire before he embraced the label that was given to him years prior by others. When he released Eat Me, Drink Me in 2007, the label was not only embraced, but it stuck around for a long time. After that he started to be known as, for example, the "Vampire of Hollywood Hills", not only for how he looked, but he was also known to be a night owl staying up throughout the night and sleeping during the day, while living in cold, dark conditions. He explored dark themes, like death and violence, and seduced sexually with sirenic rhythms. Then came the accusations, the cancellations, and the seclusion in the midst of a global pandemic after he got married and released an acclaimed album. With these recent appearances which we noted above, however, I have a sense that his vampire fangs have been put on the shelf and he's become more like another Monster of Universal Studios - Frankenstein's Monster. And I'm not referring to the book necessarily, but how this Monster is portrayed in the 1930's through Universal Studios, since the book he is based on by Mary Shelley is much different.
Frankenstein was released in 1931 with no censorship rules, and Bride of Frankenstein was released in 1935 with strict censorship rules, both directed by James Whale. In between these two, in 1933, James Whale also directed another Universal Monster movie called The Invisible Man. I will assume everyone has seen these three films, and if you haven't then you should at your earliest opportunity.
Frankenstein is about a young scientist named Henry Frankenstein who creates life out of lifeless body parts, but being unable to control the Monster, the Monster escapes and comes across a little girl playing by a pond, and in a heartwarming scene the Monster finally finds a friend who accepts him for who he is, but he accidentally kills the little girl. When the father finds his little girl is dead, he carries her lifeless corpse throughout the town, causing a mob riot to hunt down her killer. The film ends with the Monster trapped in a mill, to which the mob sets fire and it is entirely consumed.
Bride of Frankenstein begins where the previous film left off, and the mob begins to hunt down the Monster again, who managed to escape the burning mill, until they finally capture him and torture him, then after he escapes he kidnaps Henry's fiancée Elizabeth, and asks of his creator, Henry Frankenstein, to make for him a companion, just like Adam asked God for Eve. When this is done and the Bride is presented to the Monster, she screams and is repulsed by him. The Monster then commits suicide by blowing up the castle with his Bride also inside, while he allows Henry and Elizabeth to flee for safety.
The Invisible Man I think may also play a bit of a role in this. This is about a scientist who finds the formula to make himself invisible, which initially he thinks can help mankind defeat bad governments, but soon he feels like he can get away with anything. In the beginning he tries to reverse the effects, covering himself to hide what he has become, but the formula also begins to make him more and more evil, which leads to him committing murders and crimes and eventually he meets his demise.
Frankenstein's Monster is viewed as a Monster by the ignorant mob, but in reality he only is considered a Monster because he is mistreated and doesn't have anyone to teach him otherwise, being created with an abnormal brain. When he is viewed by the mob as a murderer, they misunderstand his intention and his lack of understanding, so they hunt him in order to kill him. In Bride of Frankenstein in particular the image of the Cross plays an eminent role. When the Monster is tortured, it is done with him in a crucified position. In one censored scene that doesn't exist in the movie, the Monster is running from the mob through a graveyard when he sees a sculpted headstone of Jesus Christ crucified on a large Cross and he mistakes it for a real man crucified like he was by the mob, so he shows his empathy when he tries to take him down from the Cross, but can't because Jesus is sculpted out of stone. Since this was censored for possibly offending people's religious sentiments, James Whale instead had the Monster run to a cave that's next to the Cross in the graveyard, as if he is running towards salvation and redemption. Then he finds a Christian hermit living by himself, and this Christian hermit is blind on the outside but inside he can see the Monster as a child of God in need, so he gives him hospitality and allows him to rest in a bed under a crucifix that is nailed to the wall. When he is discovered by two hunters, the Monster accidentally burns down the hut of the hermit and runs away. Realizing he can have no companion that understands him, he seeks a bride made after his own image, and when even she rejects him, he kills himself and his monstrous bride
Could it be that instead of the seductive, predatorial, blood-thirsty vampire, Manson is now identifying himself more with Frankenstein's Monster? Like Frankenstein's Monster, he is different, misunderstood, falsely accused, hunted, alone, seeking refuge? He finds friendship and hospitality in someone similar to him, though under different circumstances, but still impaired socially and somewhat alone, and this man flies the banner of the Cross of Christ, together with all his friends that have surrounded him. Manson may see this as a path towards redemption, since perhaps the only other path he may see as an alternative leads towards his destruction.
The Invisible Man may play a role in the sense of how Manson may feel like he has to cover himself in order to fit into society, like the Invisible Man in the beginning of the movie.
These are the thoughts I had on Halloween, and maybe these thoughts are just a product of the fact that I had recently seen both Frankenstein and The Invisible Man at a local theater. But I was first drawn towards these thoughts when I saw Manson at the Donda listening event, and one of my first thoughts was how much Manson bore a resemblance to Frankenstein's Monster played by Boris Karloff in the movie, with the big boots, the coat, the broad shoulders, the lack of expression, the black clothing. Then in a few other appearances he was covered up from head to toe like the Invisible Man, and in one boomerang Manson even poses like Frankenstein's Monster. Then when he was dressed in a white gown over his clothes, again he has the appearance of Frankenstein's Monster with the broad shoulders and big chest. Then I started to think of the other more deeper resemblances, borne from the current circumstances Manson is in. Something seems to fit, and I'm just throwing it out there for consideration, though this may not be on Manson's mind at all.
Could Manson Have Become a Christian?
As I said earlier, for many Manson fans, this is a concern, though I think for most it would be welcome if it was something Manson chose for himself. I don't see Manson as having gone through a conversion, though I must say it was a bit of a shock when I saw him bend his head in prayer. It's hard to tell what may be Manson just performing, just imitating out of respect, or just being sincere in what he was doing. Of course, the whole thing was a choreographed performance, but I have no doubt about everyone else being sincere in the midst of the performance. Whatever the case may be, I am very impressed by Manson even if it is just a performance or even just a show of respect. I don't think the Manson of 1996 would have done the same, though Manson does describe himself in his autobiography as feeling like he stood out as very unusual when he attended his grandfather's funeral in a church back then.
Personally, I don't see Manson as a convert here. I know people don't know much about me, but I'm a very devout Christian, and have been as long as I've been a Manson fan and was one long before. One day I will tell my personal Manson story, and I think it will shock many fans, though right now I don't want this website to be about me, but I want it focused on Manson. I only bring this up because I would personally love to see Manson become a Christian. To me it would be a step in his evolution, a part of his journey, not a step towards destruction. If I suspected Manson had converted, I would say so. I may be wrong of course, or maybe Manson is on the path towards converting, but I think to say he has converted is a big leap. I see it more as I described above with Frankenstein's Monster and the blind Christian hermit. Ye has extended his hand, and Manson has taken it, because Ye knows what it's like to be on the outside and misunderstood, and I'm sure Manson respects him for it, no matter what his views are. And we don't even know if Ye and Bieber believe Manson is innocent, nor does it even probably matter to them. As I have previously explained, since 2010 Manson has been on a path of redemption, and Christians like Ye and Bieber have the mindset of forgiveness and redemption in imitation of Jesus, often unlike the radical liberals of Hollywood who don't allow for such a concept, but rather feel more comfortable and virtuous and safe in their disassociation from sinners, even if it's only alleged.
The way I have always justified myself as being a Manson fan and a devout Christian is by the fact that a lot of the things I condemn about aspects of Christianity, which I believe have nothing to do with true Christianity, were being condemned by Manson. When Manson talks about Antichrist Superstar being about a personal apocalypse, it rang true for me back then and still very strongly does today. Every time I hear that album I sense a certain apocalypse happening within me. Of course, I don't agree with everything Manson says, but I never felt Manson was trying to convert me to his way of thinking. To my understanding, Manson's message has always been about being true to yourself, and being against anything that stands in the way of you being true to yourself. For me, being a Christian in the most authentic way is part of being true to myself, and being a Manson fan is also being true to myself, and I see no contradiction in it.
These days sort of remind me of the days in between Antichrist Superstar and Mechanical Animals. This is the time period when I became a fan, and I couldn't wait to see what Manson would be up to next. Then I started reading interviews and Manson was talking about how he discovered his soul, how he will no longer attack Christianity, how he has put away anger and self-harm through cutting, and even how all these elements would be found in the new album, including some Christian elements. Back then I was wondering if Manson, like Alice Cooper and even David Bowie, for a brief period at least, had converted to Christianity. I saw it as a natural step in his evolution, if he did. Well, we all know the story. What he said was true, of course, but not as dramatic as I was thinking. Manson did even include that Christian element he talked about, but he did it in the form of including a real Gospel choir as accompanying vocals on the album.
Manson fans come from all walks of life. We have different religious beliefs, different political beliefs, different backgrounds, different cultures, different languages, different sexual identities, different ages, and so on and so forth. This is because Manson's message is open to everyone, and part of Manson's message is disagreeing with him too if what he believes doesn't align with what makes you who you are. Manson hardly even allows for an interpretation of his music, since he defines art as a question mark, open to personal interpretation. Since Manson has opened such a wide door for his fans to embrace him, I think a true Manson fan should also do likewise and leave him a wide open door to be true to himself, no matter what path he takes in his personal life.
To conclude, I'm just happy to see Manson out there and doing what seems to make him happy, and surrounding himself with friends, and not engaging with those who have bitterly drawn a sword of enmity against him. It all confirms to me that Manson, who has always identified himself with being a perpetual child like Peter Pan, is also a mature, responsible and well-adjusted adult, who has allowed himself during this time to do some serious reflecting and soul-searching. I think we are in for exciting times ahead.
Frankenstein's Monster is viewed as a Monster by the ignorant mob, but in reality he only is considered a Monster because he is mistreated and doesn't have anyone to teach him otherwise, being created with an abnormal brain. When he is viewed by the mob as a murderer, they misunderstand his intention and his lack of understanding, so they hunt him in order to kill him. In Bride of Frankenstein in particular the image of the Cross plays an eminent role. When the Monster is tortured, it is done with him in a crucified position. In one censored scene that doesn't exist in the movie, the Monster is running from the mob through a graveyard when he sees a sculpted headstone of Jesus Christ crucified on a large Cross and he mistakes it for a real man crucified like he was by the mob, so he shows his empathy when he tries to take him down from the Cross, but can't because Jesus is sculpted out of stone. Since this was censored for possibly offending people's religious sentiments, James Whale instead had the Monster run to a cave that's next to the Cross in the graveyard, as if he is running towards salvation and redemption. Then he finds a Christian hermit living by himself, and this Christian hermit is blind on the outside but inside he can see the Monster as a child of God in need, so he gives him hospitality and allows him to rest in a bed under a crucifix that is nailed to the wall. When he is discovered by two hunters, the Monster accidentally burns down the hut of the hermit and runs away. Realizing he can have no companion that understands him, he seeks a bride made after his own image, and when even she rejects him, he kills himself and his monstrous bride
Could it be that instead of the seductive, predatorial, blood-thirsty vampire, Manson is now identifying himself more with Frankenstein's Monster? Like Frankenstein's Monster, he is different, misunderstood, falsely accused, hunted, alone, seeking refuge? He finds friendship and hospitality in someone similar to him, though under different circumstances, but still impaired socially and somewhat alone, and this man flies the banner of the Cross of Christ, together with all his friends that have surrounded him. Manson may see this as a path towards redemption, since perhaps the only other path he may see as an alternative leads towards his destruction.
The Invisible Man may play a role in the sense of how Manson may feel like he has to cover himself in order to fit into society, like the Invisible Man in the beginning of the movie.
These are the thoughts I had on Halloween, and maybe these thoughts are just a product of the fact that I had recently seen both Frankenstein and The Invisible Man at a local theater. But I was first drawn towards these thoughts when I saw Manson at the Donda listening event, and one of my first thoughts was how much Manson bore a resemblance to Frankenstein's Monster played by Boris Karloff in the movie, with the big boots, the coat, the broad shoulders, the lack of expression, the black clothing. Then in a few other appearances he was covered up from head to toe like the Invisible Man, and in one boomerang Manson even poses like Frankenstein's Monster. Then when he was dressed in a white gown over his clothes, again he has the appearance of Frankenstein's Monster with the broad shoulders and big chest. Then I started to think of the other more deeper resemblances, borne from the current circumstances Manson is in. Something seems to fit, and I'm just throwing it out there for consideration, though this may not be on Manson's mind at all.
Could Manson Have Become a Christian?
As I said earlier, for many Manson fans, this is a concern, though I think for most it would be welcome if it was something Manson chose for himself. I don't see Manson as having gone through a conversion, though I must say it was a bit of a shock when I saw him bend his head in prayer. It's hard to tell what may be Manson just performing, just imitating out of respect, or just being sincere in what he was doing. Of course, the whole thing was a choreographed performance, but I have no doubt about everyone else being sincere in the midst of the performance. Whatever the case may be, I am very impressed by Manson even if it is just a performance or even just a show of respect. I don't think the Manson of 1996 would have done the same, though Manson does describe himself in his autobiography as feeling like he stood out as very unusual when he attended his grandfather's funeral in a church back then.
Personally, I don't see Manson as a convert here. I know people don't know much about me, but I'm a very devout Christian, and have been as long as I've been a Manson fan and was one long before. One day I will tell my personal Manson story, and I think it will shock many fans, though right now I don't want this website to be about me, but I want it focused on Manson. I only bring this up because I would personally love to see Manson become a Christian. To me it would be a step in his evolution, a part of his journey, not a step towards destruction. If I suspected Manson had converted, I would say so. I may be wrong of course, or maybe Manson is on the path towards converting, but I think to say he has converted is a big leap. I see it more as I described above with Frankenstein's Monster and the blind Christian hermit. Ye has extended his hand, and Manson has taken it, because Ye knows what it's like to be on the outside and misunderstood, and I'm sure Manson respects him for it, no matter what his views are. And we don't even know if Ye and Bieber believe Manson is innocent, nor does it even probably matter to them. As I have previously explained, since 2010 Manson has been on a path of redemption, and Christians like Ye and Bieber have the mindset of forgiveness and redemption in imitation of Jesus, often unlike the radical liberals of Hollywood who don't allow for such a concept, but rather feel more comfortable and virtuous and safe in their disassociation from sinners, even if it's only alleged.
The way I have always justified myself as being a Manson fan and a devout Christian is by the fact that a lot of the things I condemn about aspects of Christianity, which I believe have nothing to do with true Christianity, were being condemned by Manson. When Manson talks about Antichrist Superstar being about a personal apocalypse, it rang true for me back then and still very strongly does today. Every time I hear that album I sense a certain apocalypse happening within me. Of course, I don't agree with everything Manson says, but I never felt Manson was trying to convert me to his way of thinking. To my understanding, Manson's message has always been about being true to yourself, and being against anything that stands in the way of you being true to yourself. For me, being a Christian in the most authentic way is part of being true to myself, and being a Manson fan is also being true to myself, and I see no contradiction in it.
These days sort of remind me of the days in between Antichrist Superstar and Mechanical Animals. This is the time period when I became a fan, and I couldn't wait to see what Manson would be up to next. Then I started reading interviews and Manson was talking about how he discovered his soul, how he will no longer attack Christianity, how he has put away anger and self-harm through cutting, and even how all these elements would be found in the new album, including some Christian elements. Back then I was wondering if Manson, like Alice Cooper and even David Bowie, for a brief period at least, had converted to Christianity. I saw it as a natural step in his evolution, if he did. Well, we all know the story. What he said was true, of course, but not as dramatic as I was thinking. Manson did even include that Christian element he talked about, but he did it in the form of including a real Gospel choir as accompanying vocals on the album.
Manson fans come from all walks of life. We have different religious beliefs, different political beliefs, different backgrounds, different cultures, different languages, different sexual identities, different ages, and so on and so forth. This is because Manson's message is open to everyone, and part of Manson's message is disagreeing with him too if what he believes doesn't align with what makes you who you are. Manson hardly even allows for an interpretation of his music, since he defines art as a question mark, open to personal interpretation. Since Manson has opened such a wide door for his fans to embrace him, I think a true Manson fan should also do likewise and leave him a wide open door to be true to himself, no matter what path he takes in his personal life.
To conclude, I'm just happy to see Manson out there and doing what seems to make him happy, and surrounding himself with friends, and not engaging with those who have bitterly drawn a sword of enmity against him. It all confirms to me that Manson, who has always identified himself with being a perpetual child like Peter Pan, is also a mature, responsible and well-adjusted adult, who has allowed himself during this time to do some serious reflecting and soul-searching. I think we are in for exciting times ahead.