Shock rocker Marilyn Manson has been ordered to pay the legal fees of actress Evan Rachel Wood in their ongoing defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed by Manson, claimed that Wood had coerced women into making false statements about him. However, the lawsuit was dismissed by a Los Angeles judge last year, and Manson has now been ordered to pay Wood $300,000 in legal fees.
The decision was made by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Teresa A. Beaudet during a court hearing on January 29. The reimbursement covers the expenses Wood incurred in defending against the defamation and emotional distress claims. These claims have now been struck from the lawsuit, which is still pending.
The defamation suit stems from the release of the documentary Phoenix Rising, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. The film explored Manson’s alleged cycles of abuse, and came after Wood publicly accused him of abusing and “grooming” her during their relationship from 2007 to 2010. Manson has denied these allegations and others made by more than 12 women, claiming they are “horrible distortions of reality”.
Wood’s accusations led to Manson being dropped by his record label and CAA representation. The trial for the defamation lawsuit is set for May 1.
The ruling is a significant development in the legal battle between Manson and Wood, and it brings attention back to the #MeToo movement and the broader issue of abuse in the entertainment industry. With the trial looming, the outcome will undoubtedly have implications for future cases of alleged abuse and defamation in Hollywood.
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