Billy Corgan Defends Friendship with Marilyn Manson: “I Personally Didn’t Feel That He Was Guilty”
Billy Corgan defended his long-standing friendship with Marilyn Manson, saying he personally did not believe Manson was guilty of the allegations against him. Corgan cited his own knowledge of the case and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s decision not to pursue a sexual assault case, while stressing that he was not there for everything and that anyone found guilty should go to jail.
Corgan said their relationship spans nearly 30 years and is reinforced by family ties: Manson’s wife is the twin sister of Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha’s wife. The pair were estranged for about 15 years after a disagreement over a letter Corgan wrote about Manson’s relationship with Rose McGowan, then reconciled onstage in London in December 2014.
In short
- Corgan says he did not believe Manson was guilty.
- He cites personal knowledge and the DA’s decision not to proceed.
- Their friendship dates back nearly 30 years and includes family ties.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Corgan can argue that a nearly 30-year friendship gives him personal knowledge of Manson’s character and circumstances, and that the Los Angeles District Attorney’s decision not to pursue a sexual assault case supports his stated belief that Manson was not guilty. He also acknowledges the limits of what he knows and says anyone found guilty should face imprisonment, framing his position as a personal judgement rather than a claim to have witnessed everything.
The case against
A close friendship, even one sustained by family ties, cannot establish what happened in private or outweigh allegations that should be assessed on their evidence. A prosecutor’s decision not to pursue one case is not a finding that the accused was innocent, so critics may see Corgan’s public defence as giving undue weight to personal loyalty and a single prosecutorial decision.