In the wake of allegations of abuse against Marilyn Manson of ex-fiancee of rock star Evan Rachel Wood and four other women, musician and former collaborator Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails scolded Manson and stated his “dislike” for the artist in a new statement.
As Pitchfork reported, the Nine Inch Nails band leader’s complaint comes after a story about Reznor from Manson’s 1998 autobiography, The long and difficult road out of hell, resurfaced after Wood’s accusation on February 1 that Manson treated and abused her during their relationship. In the book, Manson tells of an incident in the 1990s where he and Reznor allegedly physically and sexually assaulted a drunken woman.
On Wednesday (February 3), Reznor refuted the story, his defense apparently issued in response to screenshots of passages from Manson’s autobiography appearing on social media.
“I have spoken openly over the years about my dislike of Manson as a person and I cut off from him almost 25 years ago,” said Reznor. “As I said at the time, the Manson memoir passage is a complete invention. I was furious and offended when it came out and it continues today.”
The story about Reznor and Manson’s alleged debauchery was to happen in 1995 Empyrean Magazine interview with Manson before being canceled due to content objections. Its inclusion in The long and difficult road out of hell highlighted Manson’s initial relationship with Reznor – the Nine Inch Nails mentor helped produce Marilyn Manson’s first two albums, each released under Reznor’s Nothing Records brand.
In 2017, as Consequence of Sound noted at the time, Manson claimed that he and Reznor had made up, keeping the NIN frontman sending him an email saying “something like ‘Even if it irritates me that the song isn’t more dangerous, it reminds me of how big you were and I was and that time. ‘”
In 2018, Wood testified before the United States House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security that she had suffered “toxic mental, physical and sexual abuse that started slowly, but increased over time”. His testimony, in support of the Declaration of the Rights of Survivors of Sexual Violence, did not reveal the name of the alleged aggressor. But that changed earlier this week.
“My attacker’s name is Brian Warner,” said Wood via Instagram on Monday, “also known in the world as Marilyn Manson. He started preparing me when I was a teenager and terribly abused me for years. I was subjected to a brainwashed and manipulated for submission. I’m tired of living in fear of retaliation, slander or blackmail. I’m here to expose this dangerous man and summon the many industries that have enabled him before he ruins more lives. I have the many victims who won’t but stay silent. “
Manson responded shortly afterwards, saying that his life and art have “for a long time been magnets of controversy, but these recent statements about me are horrible distortions of reality. My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how – and why – others are now choosing to misrepresent the past, that’s the truth. “
Following the allegations, Manson was dismissed by his record label and talent agency, lost his planned TV roles and had a state senator called in to investigate his activities. Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit and another of Manson’s former loves, Rose McGowan, shared their support for the alleged victims.