Billy Corgan Backs Marilyn Manson Over Sex Abuse Claims, Citing Inside Knowledge Of Case: “I Personally Didn’t Feel He Was Guilty”
Billy Corgan has defended his friend Marilyn Manson, saying he did not believe Manson was guilty of the allegations against him and that he did not want others to dictate whom he associated with. Corgan said his view was shaped by knowing Manson and people involved in the case, while stressing that anyone found guilty should go to jail.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney closed the four-year investigation in January 2025, saying domestic violence allegations were outside the statute of limitations and prosecutors could not prove sexual assault charges beyond reasonable doubt. Evan Rachel Wood said investigators had described the evidence as compelling but that legal time limits prevented prosecution. Manson has denied the allegations; he was ordered to pay Wood nearly $327,000 in legal fees after suing her for defamation, and several professional opportunities were lost following the claims.
In short
- Corgan says he did not believe Manson was guilty.
- Prosecutors closed the investigation over legal and evidential barriers.
- Manson denies the allegations and continues to perform.
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The case for
Corgan’s position can be grounded in personal knowledge: he says he knew Manson and people involved, and did not believe the allegations had been proved. The investigation ended without charges because prosecutors said the claims were time-barred or could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt; Manson has denied them, and Corgan argues that people should not be told whom they may associate with absent a finding of guilt.
The case against
The absence of charges does not establish that allegations were false: prosecutors said legal time limits barred some claims and that they could not meet the criminal standard of proof on others. Wood has said investigators regarded the evidence as compelling, and critics may argue that a friend’s personal impressions cannot substitute for an independent assessment of evidence or erase the seriousness of the allegations.
Explained simply
Marilyn Manson is a musician whose former partner, actor Evan Rachel Wood, and other women have accused him of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Manson has denied the allegations.
In the United States, prosecutors can bring criminal charges only when they have enough evidence and the law allows them to do so. Time limits can prevent prosecution even when allegations have been investigated, and a decision not to charge is not a court finding of guilt or innocence.
Billy Corgan, the Smashing Pumpkins singer, has known Manson and says his personal knowledge shaped his view. The case has drawn attention to how allegations are assessed, the limits of criminal proceedings and the effect claims can have on people’s careers.