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.