Evan Rachel Wood “not scared” of Marilyn Manson’s defamation lawsuit

nme.com:

Marilyn Manson, who Wood has accused of grooming before subjecting her to “horrific abuse” when they began a relationship.Manson – real name Brian Hugh Warner – sued Wood for defamation, emotional distress and “impersonation over the internet” earlier this month, seeking a jury trial and naming both Wood along with Illma Gore (who is described as Wood’s “on-again, off-again romantic partner” in the lawsuit) as defendants.In the lawsuit, filed in California court, Manson alleges that Wood and Gore committed “wrongful and illegal acts done in furtherance of a conspiracy… to publicly cast [Warner] as a rapist and abuser – a malicious falsehood that has derailed Warner’s successful music, TV, and film career”.The lawsuit claims Wood and Gore “recruited, coordinated and pressured prospective accusers to emerge simultaneously with allegations of rape and abuse against Warner”, and alleges they impersonated an FBI agent in order to “create the false appearance that Warner’s alleged ‘victims’ and their families were in danger, and that there was a federal criminal investigation of Warner ongoing”.It followed the premiere of Wood’s documentary, Phoenix Rising, at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

Set to arrive on HBO Max today (March 15), the Amy Berg-directed film recounts the abuse Wood allegedly suffered from Manson, and follows her decision to publicly accuse him last year.Now, appearing on The View, Wood has spoken out about Manson’s lawsuit. “I can’t obviously speak about any of the specific allegations of the lawsuit, but I am not scared,” Wood said. “I am sad, because this is how it works.