Manson wanted for alleged assault at 2019 concert

LOS ANGELES • American singer Marilyn Manson is wanted in New Hampshire in connection with an assault involving a videographer at a concert in 2019, the United States police said on Tuesday.

An arrest warrant charges Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, with two misdemeanour counts of simple assault in connection with the episode, which took place in the stage pit area during a concert on Aug 18, 2019, Mr Anthony Bean Burpee, the chief of the Gilford Police Department, said in an e-mail on Tuesday night.

The arrest warrant was issued on Oct 8, 2019.

Mr Burpee said Manson, his agent and his legal representatives had been notified several times of the warrant, but that Manson had made no effort to return to New Hampshire to answer the charges.

He added that "in light of recent other allegations" - a reference to accusations of sexual assault and domestic abuse from Manson's former romantic partners - the authorities wanted Manson "to take care of his business" in New Hampshire "so that he and we can move forward".

Manson, 52, was dropped by his record label and his agents and was cut from television guest roles after actress Esme Bianco, known for her work on TV series Game Of Thrones (2011 to 2019), filed a lawsuit in April in which she accused Manson of sexual assault and sexual battery. She described a series of violent incidents that she said had occurred when they lived together in 2011.

The lawsuit came nearly three months after actress Evan Rachel Wood, the Emmy-nominated star of TV series Westworld (2016 to present) and another of Manson's ex-partners, had accused the singer of domestic abuse, rape and assault.

Manson denied Wood's claims broadly in an Instagram post.

The Special Victims Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office began investigating the domestic violence allegations in February, it said in a statement.

A lawyer for Manson, Mr Howard King, said in an e-mail: "It is no secret to anyone who has attended a Marilyn Manson concert that he likes to be provocative on stage, especially in front of a camera.

"This misdemeanour claim was pursued after we received a demand from a venue videographer for more than US$35,000 after a small amount of spit came into contact with their arm. After we asked for evidence of any alleged damages, we never received a reply."

He added: "This whole claim is ludicrous, but we remain committed to cooperating with authorities, as we have done throughout."

A Class A misdemeanour in New Hampshire can carry a possible jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to US$2,000 (S$2,650).

NYTIMES