"Some people tried to get me to say that Marilyn Manson raped me, but it wasn't true." - Paz de la Huerta In a recent interview with the Italian publication Mow Mag (April 27, 2024), actress Paz de la Huerta was asked what she thought about the well-known Johnny Depp and Kevin Spacey cases, and her response was as follows (translated from the original Italian): "As for Johnny, I think he's really innocent. Some people tried to get me to say that Marilyn Manson raped me, but it wasn't true. I've been a real victim of Weinstein and other people who are going to pay, but I tell you that I know women who have lied. I didn't follow Kevin Spacey's trial, but I think it's a very different case than Depp's. However, in general, rape is a horrible thing, it ruins lives. I know something about it." Though it is a very brief and understandably overlooked mention, her statement about Marilyn Manson is very significant as the first public st
An Important Timeline
On January 29, 2021, singer and songwriter Chløë Black officially released a new song called "Title Track". That day she shared the following message on social media:
"This is the most personal and emotionally raw song I’ve shared. I can’t tell you how many times I was told that I shouldn’t write about my most painful experiences and sexual assault is ‘too dark’ a topic to discuss. I also was told innumerable times in the past not to sing bi-lingually. Today I’m so grateful to be strong enough not to listen and to have a wonderful team who are guided by open hearts instead of closed minds. Les autres je les emmerdes!"
On February 2, 2021, Chloe Black, inspired by other accusers the day before, accused Marilyn Manson of being abusive towards her when they were in a relationship in 2011. This was just four days after the release of her single "Title Track".
On February 5, 2021, her sister also shared a story on social media about Manson.
On February 16, 2021, Chloe wrote the following message on social media about her new single "Title Track" and how it was partially about the abuse she suffered by Manson:
On January 29, 2021, singer and songwriter Chløë Black officially released a new song called "Title Track". That day she shared the following message on social media:
"This is the most personal and emotionally raw song I’ve shared. I can’t tell you how many times I was told that I shouldn’t write about my most painful experiences and sexual assault is ‘too dark’ a topic to discuss. I also was told innumerable times in the past not to sing bi-lingually. Today I’m so grateful to be strong enough not to listen and to have a wonderful team who are guided by open hearts instead of closed minds. Les autres je les emmerdes!"
On February 2, 2021, Chloe Black, inspired by other accusers the day before, accused Marilyn Manson of being abusive towards her when they were in a relationship in 2011. This was just four days after the release of her single "Title Track".
On February 5, 2021, her sister also shared a story on social media about Manson.
On February 16, 2021, Chloe wrote the following message on social media about her new single "Title Track" and how it was partially about the abuse she suffered by Manson:
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On February 18, 2021, Chloe Black released the music video for "Title Track". You can see it below:
In May 2021, Chloe Black issued a lawsuit against Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner). This lawsuit eventually would get dismissed, but Chloe amended her complaint and the judge approved of it to move forward with the case, the trial of which is scheduled as of now for October 3, 2023.
In June 2021, she released a French version of "Title Track" called "Générique".
Relevant Details from Chloe Black's (Jane Doe) Lawsuit
In Chloe Black's (Jane Doe) lawsuit complaint against Manson (Brian Warner), we read:
"Over the past 10 years, Plaintiff [Jane Doe] has had multiple nightmares about Warner, but none featuring the sexual assaults themselves. Though she knew that her relationship with Warner had been very emotionally charged and difficult, she had no way of knowing or even suspecting that he had sexually assaulted her until early 2021 when her memories came back. Additionally, during this time period, she did not realize how wrongful Warner’s treatment had been at the time. She continued to believe what Warner had always told her, which is that he was a genius and she had been lucky to have been involved with him."
To summarize, in her lawsuit Chloe Black claims that for ten years she never considered Manson as someone who sexually assaulted her in any way, until she read the statements of his accusers like Evan Rachel Wood on February 1, 2021. This is when she started to "realize" that in June of 2011, Manson had sexually assaulted her on two occasions and threatened her life, though she had no memory of this before she read a bunch of accusations and articles about Manson in February 2021.
This begs the question: if Chloe Black truly never had any recollection of sexual abuse by Manson, then what is "Title Track", which was released two days before Evan's social media statement naming Manson, really about?
What Chloe Says the Song "Title Track" and Its Video Are About?
In one interview, Chloe describes her self-directed video for "Title Track" as follows:
"I was inspired by the parallels between prey animals and femininity for a long time. Sexual assault comes with almost insurmountable feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame, so I thought it would be therapeutic to embrace this idea of extreme vulnerability."
In another interview she says:
“Most of us have heard of the ‘fight or flight’ response, but not the third response that is widely observed in prey animals and humans; ‘Freezing’. Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are often asked ‘Why didn’t you run? Why didn’t you scream?’ Freezing is an uncontrollable physiological response.”
Chloe usually gives herself a French name for each of her videos, and for this video she gives herself the name "Bambi". This is because she sees herself as someone who was like a little "deer in the headlights" before her predator (abuser), bound by fear and unable to run away.
Notice however that Chloe is specifically talking about sexual assault addressed in a song and video written and shot months before February of 2021, when she actually claims in her lawsuit against Manson that she first began to realize that Manson had sexually assaulted her ten year earlier. Before February 2021, Chloe by admission had no memory of Manson sexually assaulting her.
The Lyrics to "Title Track"
In June 2021, she released a French version of "Title Track" called "Générique".
Relevant Details from Chloe Black's (Jane Doe) Lawsuit
In Chloe Black's (Jane Doe) lawsuit complaint against Manson (Brian Warner), we read:
"Over the past 10 years, Plaintiff [Jane Doe] has had multiple nightmares about Warner, but none featuring the sexual assaults themselves. Though she knew that her relationship with Warner had been very emotionally charged and difficult, she had no way of knowing or even suspecting that he had sexually assaulted her until early 2021 when her memories came back. Additionally, during this time period, she did not realize how wrongful Warner’s treatment had been at the time. She continued to believe what Warner had always told her, which is that he was a genius and she had been lucky to have been involved with him."
To summarize, in her lawsuit Chloe Black claims that for ten years she never considered Manson as someone who sexually assaulted her in any way, until she read the statements of his accusers like Evan Rachel Wood on February 1, 2021. This is when she started to "realize" that in June of 2011, Manson had sexually assaulted her on two occasions and threatened her life, though she had no memory of this before she read a bunch of accusations and articles about Manson in February 2021.
This begs the question: if Chloe Black truly never had any recollection of sexual abuse by Manson, then what is "Title Track", which was released two days before Evan's social media statement naming Manson, really about?
What Chloe Says the Song "Title Track" and Its Video Are About?
In one interview, Chloe describes her self-directed video for "Title Track" as follows:
"I was inspired by the parallels between prey animals and femininity for a long time. Sexual assault comes with almost insurmountable feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame, so I thought it would be therapeutic to embrace this idea of extreme vulnerability."
In another interview she says:
“Most of us have heard of the ‘fight or flight’ response, but not the third response that is widely observed in prey animals and humans; ‘Freezing’. Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are often asked ‘Why didn’t you run? Why didn’t you scream?’ Freezing is an uncontrollable physiological response.”
Chloe usually gives herself a French name for each of her videos, and for this video she gives herself the name "Bambi". This is because she sees herself as someone who was like a little "deer in the headlights" before her predator (abuser), bound by fear and unable to run away.
Notice however that Chloe is specifically talking about sexual assault addressed in a song and video written and shot months before February of 2021, when she actually claims in her lawsuit against Manson that she first began to realize that Manson had sexually assaulted her ten year earlier. Before February 2021, Chloe by admission had no memory of Manson sexually assaulting her.
The Lyrics to "Title Track"
"Title Track"
Written and Performed by Chløë Black
Produced by Carl Ryden
Released: January 29, 2021
Written and Performed by Chløë Black
Produced by Carl Ryden
Released: January 29, 2021
[Verse 1]
Hello, baby, can you hear me now?
I'm calling you without a sound
I'm scared to move, my feet are bound
I'm calling you but there's no sound
[Chorus]
When the words don't seem to come out
And the world keeps turning too loud
I don't mean to make this sound
This is my back against the wall
When I feel it all going black
There's no way to take it back
You can play the title track
Each time I'm back against the wall
[Verse 2]
Tell me, bitch, be honest
Honest, 'cause your dream's too honest
I've been running so long, don't know where I'm going
Fight or flight but I only been freezing
Lock the door in the light, waiting for the bleeding
[Verse 3]
Hello, honey, can you see my face
I'm crying out but there's no pain
When love is found, it can erase
The crying times when there's no pain
[Chorus]
When the words don't seem to come out
And the world keeps turning too loud
I don't mean to make this home
This is my back against the wall
When I feel it all going black
There's no way to take it back
You can play the title track
Each time I'm back against the wall
[Verse 4]
How many dicks did you suck in high school?
Did they call you a bitch when you wouldn't come through?
Did they say you deserved everything that was did to you?
I know love hurts, but this was straight up sex abuse
Honest, honest, 'cause the dream's too honest
I've been running so long, don't know where I'm going
Honest, honest, bitch, be honest
Honest, honest, honest, honest, honest, honest
[Chorus]
When the words don't seem to come out
And the world keeps turning too loud
I don't mean to make the sound
This is my back against the wall
And I feel it all going black
There's no way to take it back
You can play the title track
Each time I'm back against the wall
[Outro]
Oh, can you hear me now?
Can you hear me now?
I been running, running, running, running, running
Can you hear me now?
The Real Inspiration Behind "Title Track"
Chloe Black claims the primary inspiration behind the song "Title Track" is Marilyn Manson, though she indicates it may be about others too. However, it wasn't until after its release and after Evan Rachel Wood named Marilyn Manson as her abuser that Chloe began to talk about this song as being about Manson and the sexual assault she suffered. This is despite the fact that she says in her lawsuit complaint in May 2021 that before February 2021 she had no recollection of being sexually assaulted by Manson. It is also despite the fact that this song and its accompanying music video which she wrote and directed were for the most part completed in the summer of 2020.
This leads me to draw up another theory behind the inspiration for the song "Title Track". I propose the song is really about Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood based on Evan's 2018 congressional testimony, which Chloe was no doubt very much aware of in 2020 after Evan successfully championed The Phoenix Act. If you read the lyrics above and compare them with what Evan says in her 2018 testimony, the resemblance is uncanny. This is what Evan wrote in 2018:
This past year and the massive movements such as Me Too and Time's Up have been extremely empowering and validating for survivors, but also incredibly painful. While no one had to tell me that rape was such a worldwide epidemic, to see the flood of stories so similar to my own was both freeing and soul-crushing. Waves of memories and detail came flooding into my brain every time I read the words, "I froze."
I thought I was the only human who experienced this. I carried so much guilt and confusion about my response to the abuse. It made me realize I had believed the messages society as a whole sends women on a daily basis. It's almost as if my mind has been conditioned to believe it must have been my fault, I must have done something wrong, not him, he obviously couldn't help it. I accepted my powerlessness and felt I deserved it somehow. Why? After years of processing and looking back I see these experiences so clearly for what they are. So finally I asked myself, Why would you feel this way?
A quote I wrote down in my journal years ago from Ph.D. Ian Robertson and his book, "The Winner Effect," comes to mind: "Men are not systematically deprived of human rights of education, relationships and work by political and religious systems because of their gender in many countries, but women are. The resulting powerlessness of hundreds of millions of women fundamentally shapes their brains, reducing their capacity to change their situation."
Sometimes we are held down, not just by our attackers, but of what we know about our place in the world. She may freeze because she is terrified but also because she knows, deep down, there is nowhere for her to go. An estimated 400,000 untested rape kits are sitting on shelves in the United States alone. Rape kits that not only help convict the guilty but exonerate the innocent. If that doesn't tell us how people feel about violence against women, I don't know what does.
After doing more research on this "freeze" response, I found the following information on something called "Tonic Immobility." This is a trauma response that animals will exhibit during an attack, they will freeze or "play dead," perceiving it as the best option when the animal sees little immediate chance of escape or winning a fight. The animal initially reacts by struggling and attempting to escape, but after a brief period of continued restraint these reactions subside and it assumes a catatonic-like posture which persists in the absence of further contact.
A special issue of The Psychological Record, from 1977, was devoted to this topic and I have submitted it here today along with my full testimony.
There are two specific instances of sexual assault I have experienced that really stick out in my mind. In fact, they are burned into my brain. Branded there for life, a mental scar that I feel, every day.
My experience with domestic violence was this. Toxic mental, physical, and sexual abuse, which started slow, but escalated over time, including threats against my life, severe gaslighting and brainwashing, waking up to the man that claimed to love me raping what he believed to be my unconscious body, and the worst part, sick rituals of binding me up by my hands and feet to be mentally and physically tortured until my abuser felt I had "proven my love for them."
In this moment, while I was tied up and being beaten and being told unspeakable things, I truly felt like I could die, not just because my abuser said to me, "I could kill you right now." But because in that moment, I felt like I left my body. I was too afraid to run, he would find me. I was too afraid to fight back, he had threatened to kill me before.
I was too afraid to have him turn on me, I knew what would happen if he got angry.
Once I realized what he was going to do, I froze, and it was as if I could see myself from the outside and for the first time in months I felt something, utter shame and despair. I had no idea what to do to change my situation. So I went numb, soon I couldn't feel anything. I wasn't alive.
My self-esteem and spirit were broken.
I was deeply terrified and that fear lives with me to this day.
Conclusion
If you compare this 2018 testimony by Evan with the lyrics of "Title Track" and what Chloe said in interviews about the song and accompanying music video, it only makes sense that what Chloe is referring to is not herself, but Evan. Not only does Evan go into some detail about being like frozen prey before her predator/abuser, but it also talks about her being bound and wanting to run, among other similarities. The song, I would say, is indeed about Manson, but it is based on Evan's testimony more than Chloe's own experience. As for Chloe, I don't know to what extent she can relate to this song, in the sense of her being sexually abused by someone else in her past, but the song does not make sense if it is really about Manson sexually assaulting Chloe and its after effects if her legal complaint from May 2021 and further amended complaints are to be considered factual.