Marilyn Manson: Unmasked

[cheezncrackers]

Has anyone watched this? I watched 'Phoenix Rising' a couple of years ago (the documentary that Evan Rachel Wood did to explain the abusive relationship she was in with MM), and this expands on that, looking at the bigger picture of Manson's career, his stage persona, what he's said and done over the years, etc. It interviews fans, former employees, ERW, his lawyer, the director of the video in which ERW says MM raped her, journalists who interviewed him and wrote about him, one of his band members, and old school friend.

And by the end you have the allegations that he did all these awful things (rape, sexual abuse, bondage, manipulation, control and more), and his reply to it all, apart from the rape, which he denies, seems to be 'So what? I was always explicit about what I was into, and as far as I was concerned I was in consenting, adult relationships with these people. They didn't complain at the time and just because they've now had second thoughts about what they did with me doesn't mean I did anything wrong'.

It's interesting that Dita von Teese (who he was married to, but then cheated on and left for ERW), is one person who hasn't accused him, in fact I think I recall that she said he didn't abuse her. Maybe she was the only one who went into a relationship with him with her eyes wide open and knew exactly who he was and what being in a relationship with him would mean? At one point in the documentary there is audio of MM, in an interview, saying something like 'I say all these terrible things, so why aren't people worried that I'm doing them?'

FWIW, I am no fan of his, I couldn't hum you a single song of his, I always thought he looked absolutely horrible! But his lawyer said that MM would welcome going to court, because he could easily win against the allegations made against him. As it is, no court case has been forthcoming and he's basically been cancelled, which is great IMO. Vile, abusive man, but one who was (IMO) hiding in plain sight the whole time. But why did so many people not believe that he was exactly what he said he was? It's just bizarre to me that so many people just thought he was trying to be provocative and 'a rock star' and didn't see that he was a misogynistic abuser who was explicit about that fact.

He tells us exactly what he is ( as they all seem to!) Absolutely vile. I found it a really hard watch.

It is possible he never abused Dita von Teese. Some abusers don't abuse every woman they've ever been with. But they do generally abuse most of their "partners".

It's also possible that she doesn't want to talk about it. If she makes an allegation, the public will be clamoring for details and I can fully understand why some of his victims would not want to share those.

@SabreIsMyFave

"They were just fans of emo bands. like Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and 30 seconds to Mars"

Jared Leto (30 STM) has all kinds of rumours sticking to him- I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't settling law suits on the side.

That's to say, that whole era of new metal/ grunge/punk and emo hid a whole load of wrong uns. It's only with hindsight I realise how disgusting some of these bands were!

I was never a die hard MM fan, but I went to one of his gigs when I was 16, I think I went along with it all really, loved the social aspect of going up to London and being one of the "naughty" kids getting drunk and listening to music my parents hated. Standard teenage shit. Did not for a second consider any of the imaginary/ lyrics in a deep and meaningful way.

I also still love some metal/ punk and emo. It's not the music genres, it's just people taking advantage, you get it in any industry I guess?

Remember that guy from Lostprophets? I hated them, but another one who essentially abused/ manipulated fans (absolutely revolting little man and woman who cooperated with him).

Alls to say, trust no one 😂that's my motto

It is possible he never abused Dita von Teese. Some abusers don't abuse every woman they've ever been with. But they do generally abuse most of their "partners".

Dita was in her early 30s when she dated him so maybe he was aware he wouldn't have been able to get away with it with her, compared to the much younger and more impressionable girls.

Was Dita Jane Doe?

Maybe he didnt abuse DVT but their marriage didnt last long

No.. the Jane Doe allegation was from 2011. They divorced in 2007.

It’s so terrifying how he could manipulate and abuse people. Rock stars are idolised, more probably then film or any other entertainment stars. Manson was probably the most recognised and written about rock star in the world for a time in the 1990s. He’ll have made a lot of people a lot of money. A lot of people who no doubt knew and kept quiet about what sort of person he was. He could get away with it. It’s terrifying.

I’ve just watched it, I agree. Lawyers that defend these men are the lowest of the low. A contemptible man. The fact his band mates haven’t corroborated the women’s claims just shows how the boys clubs doubles down, it doesn’t make him innocent! It’s not the great take the lawyer thinks it is.

Just watched it. I was into the metal scene back in the 80s/90s and I remember him getting big. Most gigs I went to the guys were pretty respectful and I was 13-16 at the time, but there was a growing trend of being hateful towards women that I noticed.
Anyway the first time I heard about him was when people at a gig (not a manson one) told me they were at one of his gigs and saw him abuse a girl with a glass bottle in front of a crowd. I was sickened and I asked loads of questions, the gist was that he got away with it and was just allowed to do this. The crowd encircled the incident so it couldn't be seen. This was before he was a household name, it was underground rumours and such, but I knew then that their must have been something very off about him so I never got into his music.

I think a lot of the time, the underground scene knows what these guys are really like and its talked about but its not widely known. Its just unfortunate that so many go this route and are allowed to continue.

@MuseMum7 yeah I think you're right that it's an open secret among people who know them what a lot of high profile abusers are really like.

My DH has a friend who is a writer in Hollywood and I asked him if everyone knew about Harvey Weinstein and he said yes, absolutely.