Marilyn Manson is facing mounting political and public pressure in the UK, with not just one, but now two dates on his upcoming fall tour under fire. Following the controversy surrounding his scheduled Halloween performance in Bournemouth, a British Member of Parliament is now urging the cancellation of the October 29th tour opener at the Brighton Centre in Brighton.
Earlier this month, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council leader Millie Earl called for Manson’s October 31st show at Windsor Hall in the Bournemouth International Centre to be scrapped. Earl cited the serious allegations of sexual assault and misconduct made against Manson since 2021, arguing that allowing the artist to perform would send a harmful message. “I don’t feel Marilyn Manson reflects the values we have in BCP,” she stated.
Now, Green Party MP Siân Berry has added her voice to the growing chorus. In a formal letter to Brighton and Hove City Council, Berry urged officials to reconsider allowing Manson to perform at the city’s largest publicly owned venue, calling attention to the risk such a booking poses to survivors of abuse and the broader community. As reported by 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 co-signed by several advocacy and community groups, including the Survivors’ Network, Reclaim The Night Brighton & Hove, The Queery Co-Op, and the University of Sussex Students’ Union.
The backlash against Manson—whose real name is Brian Warner—has been intensifying since 2021, when actress and former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood publicly named him as her abuser. Over a dozen women followed with claims ranging from sexual assault and psychological abuse to grooming and coercion. While no criminal charges have been filed due to statute limitations, the fallout was swift: Manson was dropped by his record label, talent agency, and longtime manager.
Some civil lawsuits have since been settled out of court, while others remain ongoing, including cases involving a former personal assistant and a Jane Doe alleging abuse dating back to the 1990s. Manson has repeatedly denied all allegations.
In 2022, Manson filed a defamation lawsuit against Wood and her associate Ilma Gore, claiming they orchestrated a campaign of false accusations. That case was largely dismissed and ultimately withdrawn in late 2023 after facing legal hurdles.
Despite the controversy, Manson’s UK tour is still scheduled to begin on October 29 in Brighton, followed by the October 31 show in Bournemouth. However, with both events now facing strong political opposition, the future of these performances remains uncertain.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.