One of many many ladies who’ve accused Marilyn Manson of sexual assault has recanted.
Ashley Morgan Smithline alleged in Might 2021 that the musician raped, brainwashed, and minimize her throughout their relationship. She was one in every of greater than a dozen girls who accused Manson, whose actual identify is Brian Warner, of sexual assault.
In a authorized submitting obtained Thursday by Web page Six, nonetheless, Smithline recanted her story. She additionally claimed Evan Rachel Wooden, who first outed Manson as her alleged abuser in February 2021, “manipulated” the mannequin into submitting her allegation within the first place.
“I succumbed to stress from Evan Rachel Wooden and her associates to make accusations of rape and assault towards [Manson] that weren’t true,” mentioned Smithline within the new authorized submitting obtained by the outlet.
Smithline claimed she was welcomed into group conferences with different Manson victims in 2020 and repeatedly advised by individuals that she was “whipped, chained, tied up, branded, minimize, assaulted whereas sleeping, crushed, or raped” by Manson however couldn’t keep in mind it.
Smithline claimed she advised them “this didn’t occur to me,” however alleged Wooden stored suggesting “simply because she couldn’t keep in mind” that it “didn’t essentially imply that it didn’t occur” and allegedly advised Smithline she had merely “repressed” these recollections.
Francesco Prandoni by way of Getty Pictures
“Whereas at first, I knew Mr. Warner didn’t do this stuff to me, I finally started to query whether or not he really did,” claimed Smithline within the submitting.
A consultant for Wooden didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Smithline mentioned she was so satisfied that she allowed Wooden’s accomplice Illma Gore to publish “unfaithful statements” about “violence and non-consensual sexual exercise” to her Instagram in February 2021. Smithline turned the fourth girl to sue Manson in June of that 12 months.
Smithline’s lawsuit alleged sexual assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional misery, human trafficking, illegal imprisonment and extra, Rolling Stone reported. She claimed Manson promised to solid her in a movie, just for an abusive relationship to start.
On “The View” in June 2021, Smithline claimed Manson “had intercourse with my unconscious physique” and “made it clear that my life was positively at risk.” She alleged in her submitting that Wooden “suggested her” to come back ahead. Smithline’s case was dismissed final month.
“She was a reluctant participant from the get-go,” Howard King, Manson’s legal professional, advised Web page Six. “For a second in time, having been questioned so many instances by Evan Rachel Wooden about this ‘repressed reminiscence’…she believed it for a minute.”
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King added Smithline’s legal professional Jay Ellwanger was “given to her” by Esmé Bianco, a fellow Manson accuser who settled out of courtroom in January. Ellwanger allegedly drafted Smithline’s grievance “with out speaking to her about what the factual allegations had been” earlier than submitting it.
Smithline additionally echoed King’s assertion to Web page Six that she wasn’t being paid to recant her accusation and mentioned she felt “manipulated by Ms. Wooden, Ms. Gore, Ms. Bianco, and Mr. Ellwanger to unfold publicly false accusations of abuse towards Mr. Warner.”
Whereas not all the dozen-plus girls who’ve accused Manson of sexual impropriety have taken their claims to courtroom, there are two girls — one in every of whom was an adolescent when Manson allegedly assaulted her — whose lawsuits stay lodged.
Need assistance? Go to RAINN’s Nationwide Sexual Assault On-line Hotline or the Nationwide Sexual Violence Useful resource Middle’s web site.