In the wake of multiple allegations of abuse lodged against Marilyn Manson, the rocker's former assistant Dan Cleary has come forward with claims of his own, alleging that he witnessed instances of Manson abusing his current wife, photographer Lindsay Usich.
In a new episode of the Rare Form Radio podcast [via Huffington Post], Cleary said he witnessed Manson threaten to kill, physically harm and mentally abuse Usich while he was employed by the artist.
"I saw some physical abuse as far as like pushing and throwing things at her and a lot of like violent outbursts around her ― breaking things," Cleary said. "A lot of mental abuse and name-calling and threats."
He added: "There were times when Manson would tell her that he's going to kill her and cut her up and that I'm going to bury her in the desert ― me. He would leave the room and I would [tell her], 'You're going to be fine. I'm not going to do any of that. Let's get you to a hotel.'"
Cleary's recent claims follow a thread of abuse allegations that he posted to Twitter back in September. In that thread, he also backed up Evan Rachel Wood's then-speculated victimization by Manson, saying that he witnessed Wood turn into a "different person." He explained, "He broke her. I didn't totally realize until later in life."
At the time, Cleary also came forward about witnessing Manson's abuse of Usich:
I saw first hand, over & over him being an abusive violent boyfriend to his GF Lindsay. Over the almost 2 year stretch, I saw her in tears & him screaming & belittling her more often than I didn't.
He would threaten to kill her, cut her up, bury her, embarrass her to the world. Making her cry & fear him made him feel good. He would remind her that she'd be homeless without him and make fun of her learning disabled family member.
Cleary also skewered fans who refuse to believe the stories of women and Manson's affiliates that have come forward: "Let's not pretend because you saw Manson play in '95 that he wouldn't rape somebody or beat somebody in 2009."
This morning, TMZ reported that detectives from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department have begun planning a meeting with one of Manson's alleged victims, though it is unclear who among those that have already come forward will be speaking with police.
Cleary's account follows Wood's statement about her former partner, in which she alleged that he had "horrifically abused" her during their relationship, "brainwashed and manipulated [her] into submission" and began grooming her when she was only a teenager. Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco also came forward with her own allegations, after Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell alleged that Manson filmed up her skirt at a festival. Phoebe Bridgers also shared a disturbing account of her experience at Manson's home.
Since the accusations first surfaced earlier this year, Manson has been dropped by his longtime manager Tony Ciulla, denounced by Trent Reznor and former bandmate Wes Borland, dropped by his label, and cut from upcoming TV appearances on American Gods and Creepshow as a result of the allegations.
In support of Wood and other victims, Manson's ex-fiancée Rose McGowan issued a statement of solidarity, while his ex-wife Dita Von Teese shared that the "details made public do not match [her] personal experience."
Manson issued his own statement in response to the accusations, denying all claims of abuse and calling them "horrible distortions of reality."
In a new episode of the Rare Form Radio podcast [via Huffington Post], Cleary said he witnessed Manson threaten to kill, physically harm and mentally abuse Usich while he was employed by the artist.
"I saw some physical abuse as far as like pushing and throwing things at her and a lot of like violent outbursts around her ― breaking things," Cleary said. "A lot of mental abuse and name-calling and threats."
He added: "There were times when Manson would tell her that he's going to kill her and cut her up and that I'm going to bury her in the desert ― me. He would leave the room and I would [tell her], 'You're going to be fine. I'm not going to do any of that. Let's get you to a hotel.'"
Cleary's recent claims follow a thread of abuse allegations that he posted to Twitter back in September. In that thread, he also backed up Evan Rachel Wood's then-speculated victimization by Manson, saying that he witnessed Wood turn into a "different person." He explained, "He broke her. I didn't totally realize until later in life."
At the time, Cleary also came forward about witnessing Manson's abuse of Usich:
I saw first hand, over & over him being an abusive violent boyfriend to his GF Lindsay. Over the almost 2 year stretch, I saw her in tears & him screaming & belittling her more often than I didn't.
He would threaten to kill her, cut her up, bury her, embarrass her to the world. Making her cry & fear him made him feel good. He would remind her that she'd be homeless without him and make fun of her learning disabled family member.
Cleary also skewered fans who refuse to believe the stories of women and Manson's affiliates that have come forward: "Let's not pretend because you saw Manson play in '95 that he wouldn't rape somebody or beat somebody in 2009."
This morning, TMZ reported that detectives from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department have begun planning a meeting with one of Manson's alleged victims, though it is unclear who among those that have already come forward will be speaking with police.
Cleary's account follows Wood's statement about her former partner, in which she alleged that he had "horrifically abused" her during their relationship, "brainwashed and manipulated [her] into submission" and began grooming her when she was only a teenager. Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco also came forward with her own allegations, after Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell alleged that Manson filmed up her skirt at a festival. Phoebe Bridgers also shared a disturbing account of her experience at Manson's home.
Since the accusations first surfaced earlier this year, Manson has been dropped by his longtime manager Tony Ciulla, denounced by Trent Reznor and former bandmate Wes Borland, dropped by his label, and cut from upcoming TV appearances on American Gods and Creepshow as a result of the allegations.
In support of Wood and other victims, Manson's ex-fiancée Rose McGowan issued a statement of solidarity, while his ex-wife Dita Von Teese shared that the "details made public do not match [her] personal experience."
Manson issued his own statement in response to the accusations, denying all claims of abuse and calling them "horrible distortions of reality."