Marilyn Manson’s upcoming UK tour is increasingly under scrutiny as political figures and community groups raise concerns over not just one, but two scheduled shows. Following the backlash against his Halloween night performance in Bournemouth, a British Member of Parliament is now calling for the cancellation of the October 29th tour kickoff at Brighton Centre.
Earlier this month, Millie Earl, leader of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, demanded the cancellation of Manson’s October 31st concert at the Bournemouth International Centre’s Windsor Hall. Earl cited the serious sexual assault and misconduct allegations against Manson that have surfaced since 2021, emphasizing that allowing him to perform would send the wrong message to the public. “I don’t feel Marilyn Manson reflects the values we have in BCP,” she stated firmly.
Now, Green Party MP Siân Berry has joined the growing chorus of voices opposing the tour. In a formal letter addressed to Brighton and Hove City Council, Berry urged officials to reconsider permitting Manson to play at the city’s largest publicly owned venue. She highlighted the potential harm this decision could cause survivors of abuse and the wider community. According to The Argus, Berry wrote:
“Many survivors in Brighton and Hove, and organisations supporting them, will have very serious concerns about this booking and its impact on other people visiting the city centre, local residents and the wider community.
Freedom of expression is an important principle that should be defended, including in relation to artists, but there is an obvious risk to community cohesion and the council has separate equalities obligations to foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and people who do not share them.
The council has a responsibility to take action where there are risks of discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
The level and nature of the accusations against Warner are concerning enough alone, but so too is the message sent out by providing a platform for this individual, at our city’s biggest publicly owned venue, and what this will mean to survivors.”
Berry’s letter was supported by multiple advocacy and community organizations, including Survivors’ Network, Reclaim The Night Brighton & Hove, The Queery Co-Op, and the University of Sussex Students’ Union.
The backlash against Brian Warner, known professionally as Marilyn Manson, began in 2021 when actress and former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused him of abuse. Since then, more than a dozen women have come forward with allegations spanning sexual assault, psychological abuse, grooming, and coercion. Although criminal charges have not been filed due to statute of limitations, the repercussions were immediate: Manson was dropped by his record label, talent agency, and longtime management.
While some civil suits have been settled privately, several remain active, including cases brought by a former personal assistant and a Jane Doe alleging abuse from the 1990s. Manson has consistently denied all accusations.
In 2022, Manson filed a defamation suit against Wood and her associate Ilma Gore, accusing them of orchestrating a campaign of false claims. The lawsuit was mostly dismissed and eventually withdrawn in late 2023 after facing significant legal challenges.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
