Marilyn Manson will performing at Arizona Bike Week in Scottsdale, Arizona on Saturday, April 5th 2025! Though Manson had not been previously scheduled for this event which is just a few weeks away, yesterday Arizona Bike Week made the following announcement on their social media pages: "Five Finger Death Punch had to cancel their performance due to a family matter, but we’re thrilled to announce Marilyn Manson will be taking the stage in the RockYard on Saturday, April 5th!! Saturday ticket holders will be receiving an email regarding this schedule change." Due to the lineup change, this will be Marilyn Manson's first headliner at a festival since his return to the stage last year. Regarding the nearly last minute schedule change, Arizona Bike Week producer Lisa Cyr told the Arizona Republic the following: “It’s been a little crazy, obviously. A lot of scrambling. But we’re pretty excited with the way it all turned out. Marilyn Manson, I hear that his last few tours hav...
A 92-page request for an appeal was submitted on August 27th by Marilyn Manson's attorneys to reverse the court decision granting Evan Rachel Wood and Illma Gore their motions to strike and denying Manson's requests to submit the evidence backing up his claims. Below is a summary timeline of events that led to this appeal being filed:
On April 28, 2022, Evan sought to strike the claims arising from the fake FBI letter, her role in causing people to make false accusations, and defamatory statements Gore made about the film "Groupie." With the motion, Evan submitted a declaration in which she said that she “did not fabricate or forge the FBI letter,” and “never pressured anyone to make false accusations.”
On May 24, 2022, Illma moved to strike just the latter two. Notably, Illma did not move to strike the fake FBI letter claim and did not submit her own declaration, or the declaration of any percipient witness.
No one disputed that the FBI letter was, in fact, fake. Nor could they.
On July 25, 2022, Marilyn Manson/Brian Warner requested for limited discovery on certain facts that were necessary to rebut the above special motions to strike.
On September 27, 2022, the trial court denied the vast majority of Manson’s request, but allowed a narrow deposition of Illma on topics related to “state of mind” and “actual malice” regarding her statements about “Groupie.”
On February 19, 2023, Ashley Morgan Smithline recanted her allegations of abuse by Manson and executed a declaration in which she stated that Evan caused her to make certain false allegations. The trial court said that the declaration should have been “obtained sooner,” even though Manson had no control over this third party (who had a lawsuit against him), there was an automatic discovery stay, and the court did not let Manson take any third-party depositions.
On May 9, 2023, the court granted Evan’s and Illma’s motions and struck all the challenged claims. The court agreed with Evan that the claim of forging an FBI letter arose from “protected activity” because she later filed the letter in a parentage proceeding and, according to the court, there was no evidence that the letter was used outside of that proceeding. The court also ruled that Manson could not show a probability of prevailing in trial on the factual issue of whether there had been “outrageous” conduct by Evan or Illma when speaking with other women. Finally, the court found that Illma’s false statements about "Groupie" were protected activity, because they were made to prevent child abuse and protect children from abusers.
On August 27, 2024, attorney's for Marilyn Manson submitted a request for an appeal to reverse the court order granting Evan Rachel Wood and Illma Gore anti-SLAPP motions. In other words, Manson says there is evidence to back up his claims, and he wants to be given the opportunity to present the evidence he has and to be given the permission to get what he needs to further back up his claims.
The filed request for an appeal by Manson's attorneys make a strong case that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Teresa A. Beaudet made a number of errors by dismissing Manson's requests for the most part and granting to Evan and Illma all their motions to strike. This appeal will be heard by a panel of judges who are so far not involved in the case and they will make their own judgments on the matters involved.
On April 28, 2022, Evan sought to strike the claims arising from the fake FBI letter, her role in causing people to make false accusations, and defamatory statements Gore made about the film "Groupie." With the motion, Evan submitted a declaration in which she said that she “did not fabricate or forge the FBI letter,” and “never pressured anyone to make false accusations.”
On May 24, 2022, Illma moved to strike just the latter two. Notably, Illma did not move to strike the fake FBI letter claim and did not submit her own declaration, or the declaration of any percipient witness.
No one disputed that the FBI letter was, in fact, fake. Nor could they.
On July 25, 2022, Marilyn Manson/Brian Warner requested for limited discovery on certain facts that were necessary to rebut the above special motions to strike.
On September 27, 2022, the trial court denied the vast majority of Manson’s request, but allowed a narrow deposition of Illma on topics related to “state of mind” and “actual malice” regarding her statements about “Groupie.”
On February 19, 2023, Ashley Morgan Smithline recanted her allegations of abuse by Manson and executed a declaration in which she stated that Evan caused her to make certain false allegations. The trial court said that the declaration should have been “obtained sooner,” even though Manson had no control over this third party (who had a lawsuit against him), there was an automatic discovery stay, and the court did not let Manson take any third-party depositions.
On May 9, 2023, the court granted Evan’s and Illma’s motions and struck all the challenged claims. The court agreed with Evan that the claim of forging an FBI letter arose from “protected activity” because she later filed the letter in a parentage proceeding and, according to the court, there was no evidence that the letter was used outside of that proceeding. The court also ruled that Manson could not show a probability of prevailing in trial on the factual issue of whether there had been “outrageous” conduct by Evan or Illma when speaking with other women. Finally, the court found that Illma’s false statements about "Groupie" were protected activity, because they were made to prevent child abuse and protect children from abusers.
On August 27, 2024, attorney's for Marilyn Manson submitted a request for an appeal to reverse the court order granting Evan Rachel Wood and Illma Gore anti-SLAPP motions. In other words, Manson says there is evidence to back up his claims, and he wants to be given the opportunity to present the evidence he has and to be given the permission to get what he needs to further back up his claims.
The filed request for an appeal by Manson's attorneys make a strong case that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Teresa A. Beaudet made a number of errors by dismissing Manson's requests for the most part and granting to Evan and Illma all their motions to strike. This appeal will be heard by a panel of judges who are so far not involved in the case and they will make their own judgments on the matters involved.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Evan’s attorney Michael Kump said, “Warner’s appeal simply rehashes the same meritless claims which the trial court threw out. As Ms. Wood testified under oath, she did not fabricate or forge the FBI letter.”
Besides this appeal, the rest of Manson's lawsuit against Evan and Illma that was not stricken is still moving forward.
The entire 92-page appeal can be read here.
Media Response
TMZ was the first to report the news of Manson's appeal, focusing on the fact that Manson is claiming Evan did indeed forge an FBI letter, made false accusations against him, and plotted against him with other women to destroy his career. Rolling Stone and a number of other publications picked up on this story as well. It should be noted that Rolling Stone, which should primarily be a music magazine, has not said anything about Manson's new songs, new music videos or current concert tour since it reported that he signed his new record deal with Nuclear Blast amid his legal troubles on May 15th 2024.
Media Response
TMZ was the first to report the news of Manson's appeal, focusing on the fact that Manson is claiming Evan did indeed forge an FBI letter, made false accusations against him, and plotted against him with other women to destroy his career. Rolling Stone and a number of other publications picked up on this story as well. It should be noted that Rolling Stone, which should primarily be a music magazine, has not said anything about Manson's new songs, new music videos or current concert tour since it reported that he signed his new record deal with Nuclear Blast amid his legal troubles on May 15th 2024.