This Is Marilyn Manson's Real Name

This article contains discussion and details of sexual assault allegations.

Marilyn Manson has always been a societal outlier. His music is dark, heavy, and oftentimes considered controversial. His first hit album "Antichrist Superstar" (the polar opposite of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar") came out in 1996, and since then, he has been a mysterious figure in the music world.

Manson's work was made more notorious when in 1999 his music was linked to the Columbine massacre when the shooters were said to be his fans. He told The Guardian in 2017 that "the Columbine era" ruined his career at the time. Even so, he's well aware that his music is not for everyone and he didn't expect to be welcomed with open arms–-particularly by the religious right.

"Well, I asked for it," he explained to The Guardian. "You don't make a record called 'Antichrist Superstar' and not expect people to hate you." Still, his goal seemingly went beyond just polarizing people. "I wanted to do something that made a difference," he continued. "I wanted to put a f***king dent in the world, like my heroes: [Salvador] Dalí, Jim Morrison. I knew that there were people who would take it at face value and that there were people who would see into it more deeply, and it would be that dichotomy that would cause chaos." Has Manson always been an agent of chaos?

When Marilyn Manson was a child in Ohio, he has claimed he was molested several times by a neighbor, according to Biography. Because of this, he apparently channeled that trauma into his work. He was born Brian Hugh Warner and his stage name is derived from two well-known American names. He borrowed Marilyn from Hollywood sweetheart Marilyn Monroe, and Manson from cult leader Charles Manson. While the dark persona he created was a means to separate himself from his previous self, it also became a trap of sorts.

"That's why I wanted to quit making music, which led to exploring other avenues, like painting and acting – though that wasn't the reason at the time," Manson told The Guardian in 2015. "I think I was just bored with it. I didn't want to be exactly what everyone expected me to be." That makes sense, as he considers one of his strong suits as "being a catalyst of change" he also told the newspaper.

Although Marilyn Manson balked against the idea that his music and persona were dangerous, it seems his private life may have been incredibly toxic. When his ex-girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood came forward with abuse allegations on February 1, 2021, it didn't take long for other women to chime in. So far, five women have accused Manson of horrific abuse that includes instances of sexual abuse, electrocution, coercion, food and sleep deprivation, biting, whipping, and solitary confinement, according to a report from Rolling Stone.

In addition to physical violence, Manson is also accused of emotional and religious violence as well. Wood further alleged in a February 2021 Instagram Story (via People), "I was called a 'jew' in a derogatory manner. He would draw swastikas over my bedside table when he was mad at me."

Manson has denied the abuse. He took to Instagram in February 2021 to break his silence and said that he is being misrepresented and called the claims "horrible distortions of reality." The abuse allegations are in the news again because Wood spoke out about them in a new documentary "Phoenix Rising – Part I: Don't Fall," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Manson's attorneys filed a statement on his behalf that, again, denies any and all claims of abuse.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org for additional resources.