Having previously won dismissal of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims brought against them by Marilyn Manson, actress Evan Rachel Wood and a second woman are now seeking hundreds of thousands of dolllars in attorneys’ fees from the shock rocker.
In his suit filed in March 2022, Manson alleged Wood, his former girlfriend, and her co-defendant, Ashley Gore — who the suit describes as the actress’ “on-again, off-again romantic partner” — falsely portrayed him as a “a rapist and abuser,” derailing his “successful music, TV and film career.”
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Teresa Beaudet tossed the defamation and emotional distress claims against both women on May 9. On Friday, Wood’s attorneys filed court papers on her behalf seeking nearly $390,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs and a hearing is scheduled Jan. 26. Gore is asking for about $204,485 and the hearing on her motion is set for Feb 1.
According to Manson’s suit, the false sexual abuse allegations against him prompted his record label and manager to drop him and he also lost his role in the television show “American Gods.”
In April 2022, Wood’s attorneys filed court papers seeking dismissal of the parts of Manson’s complaint against her involving defamation and emotional distress, citing First Amendment grounds. The next month, Gore filed her own anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion based on a law intended to prevent people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
Manson alleges Gore, who is also known as Illma Gore, had multiple conversations with prospective “accusers” against the singer in which she claimed that a 1996 short film made by Manson called “Groupie” depicted child abuse and child pornography. During one such conversation in 2021, Gore said the actress in “Groupie” was a minor at the time of the shoot and was dead, and that, if the video were to be seen, Manson would be indicted, according to the suit.
Wood maintained there was no evidence that she made false statements about “Groupie” or that she conspired with Gore to make any untrue remarks. Wood also contended that Manson could not demonstrate actual malice.
The 54-year-old Manson says he and Wood, now 35, met in 2006 and had a romantic relationship that lasted four years. Wood’s accusations against Manson of “abuse, assault, rape, threats and the like are unequivocally false,” Manson says in his court papers.
Manson alleges Wood and Gore forged and distributed a phony letter from a supposed FBI agent to create the false appearance that Manson’s alleged victims and their families were in danger.