Marilyn Manson is being sued by Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco, who has accused the rocker of both rape and sexual battery.
A lawsuit was filed today in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Manson and former manager Tony Ciulla, Rolling Stone reports.
In addition to accusing Manson of rape and sexual battery, the lawsuit alleges the musician born Brian Warner, Ciulla and Ciulla's management company violated human trafficking laws by bringing Bianco from London to Los Angeles under the pretense that she would be acting in a music video that was never actually released, as well as a film that was never made.
This marks the first time legal action has been taken against Manson since multiple allegations of sexual and physical abuse surfaced earlier this year.
As previously reported, Bianco — the British actress who played the role of Ros on Game of Thrones — was one many women to lay sexual misconduct claims against Manson this year. Back in February, she detailed various allegations against Manson, including that in 2009 he bought her a plane ticket from her home in London to Los Angeles so she could star in the music video for his song "I Want to Kill You Like They Do in the Movies" and a movie called Phantasmagoria.
In Bianco's newly filed lawsuit, she outlines various allegations against Manson, many of which are graphic and of a disturbing nature.
The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
"Mr. Warner used drugs, force, and threats of force to coerce sexual acts from Ms. Bianco on multiple occasions," the lawsuit reads [via Rolling Stone]. "Mr. Warner raped Ms. Bianco in or around May 2011."
The suit adds that Manson "committed sexual acts" with Bianco while she was either unconscious or unable to consent. It reads: "These acts include spanking, biting, cutting, and whipping Ms. Bianco's buttocks, breasts, and genitals for Mr. Warner's sexual gratification — all without the consent of Plaintiff."
Beyond that, Bianco claims Manson violated California laws for sexual assault and sexual battery, adding that both he and Ciulla also violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. As previously reported, Ciulla — who founded Ciulla Management, company that has managed artists such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Rob Zombie and Tove Lo — cut ties with Manson in February after claims against the musician began surfacing online.
Ciulla and Ciulla Management are named as defendants in the lawsuit in regards to the trafficking allegations.
"Mr. Warner's former assistants discussed Mr. Warner's abuse directly with Mr. Ciulla," the suit claims. "Mr. Warner's management had a vested interest in supporting his violent tendencies to encourage the creation of his 'art' and the promotion of the brand of Marilyn Manson, and were complicit in Mr. Warner's abuse of Ms. Bianco."
It also states that Manson "promised work opportunities that never appeared while inserting himself in her visa process... By inserting himself in Ms. Bianco's visa process, Mr. Warner was able to control Ms. Bianco by threatening to withdraw support if she displeased him."
The lawsuit also details a claim where Bianco states Manson locked her in a bedroom and forced her to perform "unpaid labor." She also claims he controlled her by giving her drugs and depriving her of food and sleep.
"This included serving and preparing food for Mr. Warner and his guests, cleaning his apartment, consulting on his album, providing uncredited backup vocals during the creative process for the album Born Villain, and being offered up to his guests and bandmates to 'spank,'" the lawsuit claims. "Mr. Warner implied that because he had brought Ms. Bianco to the United States and provided housing, she owed him labor and sexual intimacy."
In regards to the lawsuit, Bianco released the following statement to Rolling Stone:
As millions of survivors like myself are painfully aware, our legal system is far from perfect. This is why I co-created the Phoenix Act, a law which gives precious additional healing time to thousands of domestic violence survivors. But while I fight for a more just legal system, I am also pursuing my right to demand my abuser be held to account, using every avenue available to me.
For far too long, my abuser has been left unchecked, enabled by money, fame and an industry that turned a blind eye. Despite the numerous brave women who have spoken out against Marilyn Manson, countless survivors remain silenced, and some of their voices will never be heard. My hope is that by raising mine, I will help to stop Brian Warner from shattering any more lives and empower other victims to seek their own small measure of justice.
Bianco is seeking unspecified damages. Both Manson and Ciulla have yet to comment on the lawsuit.
A lawsuit was filed today in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Manson and former manager Tony Ciulla, Rolling Stone reports.
In addition to accusing Manson of rape and sexual battery, the lawsuit alleges the musician born Brian Warner, Ciulla and Ciulla's management company violated human trafficking laws by bringing Bianco from London to Los Angeles under the pretense that she would be acting in a music video that was never actually released, as well as a film that was never made.
This marks the first time legal action has been taken against Manson since multiple allegations of sexual and physical abuse surfaced earlier this year.
As previously reported, Bianco — the British actress who played the role of Ros on Game of Thrones — was one many women to lay sexual misconduct claims against Manson this year. Back in February, she detailed various allegations against Manson, including that in 2009 he bought her a plane ticket from her home in London to Los Angeles so she could star in the music video for his song "I Want to Kill You Like They Do in the Movies" and a movie called Phantasmagoria.
In Bianco's newly filed lawsuit, she outlines various allegations against Manson, many of which are graphic and of a disturbing nature.
The following article contains potentially triggering material relating to sexual assault and violence. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct and are looking for support, consult the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime to find resources in your area.
"Mr. Warner used drugs, force, and threats of force to coerce sexual acts from Ms. Bianco on multiple occasions," the lawsuit reads [via Rolling Stone]. "Mr. Warner raped Ms. Bianco in or around May 2011."
The suit adds that Manson "committed sexual acts" with Bianco while she was either unconscious or unable to consent. It reads: "These acts include spanking, biting, cutting, and whipping Ms. Bianco's buttocks, breasts, and genitals for Mr. Warner's sexual gratification — all without the consent of Plaintiff."
Beyond that, Bianco claims Manson violated California laws for sexual assault and sexual battery, adding that both he and Ciulla also violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. As previously reported, Ciulla — who founded Ciulla Management, company that has managed artists such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Rob Zombie and Tove Lo — cut ties with Manson in February after claims against the musician began surfacing online.
Ciulla and Ciulla Management are named as defendants in the lawsuit in regards to the trafficking allegations.
"Mr. Warner's former assistants discussed Mr. Warner's abuse directly with Mr. Ciulla," the suit claims. "Mr. Warner's management had a vested interest in supporting his violent tendencies to encourage the creation of his 'art' and the promotion of the brand of Marilyn Manson, and were complicit in Mr. Warner's abuse of Ms. Bianco."
It also states that Manson "promised work opportunities that never appeared while inserting himself in her visa process... By inserting himself in Ms. Bianco's visa process, Mr. Warner was able to control Ms. Bianco by threatening to withdraw support if she displeased him."
The lawsuit also details a claim where Bianco states Manson locked her in a bedroom and forced her to perform "unpaid labor." She also claims he controlled her by giving her drugs and depriving her of food and sleep.
"This included serving and preparing food for Mr. Warner and his guests, cleaning his apartment, consulting on his album, providing uncredited backup vocals during the creative process for the album Born Villain, and being offered up to his guests and bandmates to 'spank,'" the lawsuit claims. "Mr. Warner implied that because he had brought Ms. Bianco to the United States and provided housing, she owed him labor and sexual intimacy."
In regards to the lawsuit, Bianco released the following statement to Rolling Stone:
As millions of survivors like myself are painfully aware, our legal system is far from perfect. This is why I co-created the Phoenix Act, a law which gives precious additional healing time to thousands of domestic violence survivors. But while I fight for a more just legal system, I am also pursuing my right to demand my abuser be held to account, using every avenue available to me.
For far too long, my abuser has been left unchecked, enabled by money, fame and an industry that turned a blind eye. Despite the numerous brave women who have spoken out against Marilyn Manson, countless survivors remain silenced, and some of their voices will never be heard. My hope is that by raising mine, I will help to stop Brian Warner from shattering any more lives and empower other victims to seek their own small measure of justice.
Bianco is seeking unspecified damages. Both Manson and Ciulla have yet to comment on the lawsuit.
