Corgan Defends Manson: 'I Decide Who My Friends Are'

Billy Corgan, frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, has publicly affirmed his friendship with controversial shock rocker Marilyn Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, despite the numerous accusations of abuse against him. In a recent appearance on The New York Times Popcast on Thursday, October 22, Corgan elaborated on his decision to maintain this long-standing relationship. He stated that as a Christian person, one must stand by their friends, while still maintaining the ability to be critical and hold an opinion.

Corgan revealed that his support for Manson is rooted in personal insights not available to the public. He emphasized that he knew "personal things behind the scenes" regarding the allegations. Based on this private knowledge, the Chicago musician expressed his personal belief that Manson was not guilty of the charges brought against him. This conviction was further solidified by the fact that the district attorney ultimately did not pursue the case after a five-year investigation, which Corgan found "commensurate with the person I knew."

The legal proceedings involving Marilyn Manson have been extensive. In January 2025, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced that, following a four-year investigation, Manson would not face criminal charges. The reasons cited were the expiration of the statute of limitations on the charges and a lack of sufficient evidence to prove them. While unable to bring charges, Hochman acknowledged the "strong advocacy of the women involved" in raising awareness about the challenges faced by survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Manson's attorney, Howard King, promptly responded to the decision, stating to Billboard that they were "very pleased that, after a thorough and incredibly lengthy review of all of the actual evidence, the district attorney has concluded what we knew and expressed from the start — Brian Warner is innocent."

Corgan further explained his perspective on the legal situation during the Popcast, stating, "I knew the inside baseball of the case, and so you make those evaluations." He concluded that he felt he "made the right determination" in standing by his friend. He also asserted his independence in choosing his associates, remarking, "I don’t want the world to tell me who my friends are and who I should associate with, politically, socially."

The relationship between Corgan and Manson spans decades, tracing back to the 1990s. After an initial period of friendship, they experienced a rift that lasted until 2015, when they reconciled and embarked on their joint End Times Tour. Their connection is also intertwined through family ties: Manson’s wife, Lindsay Usich, has a twin sister named Ashley, who is married to James Iha, a member of The Smashing Pumpkins. This familial link, Corgan noted, makes Manson "basically a part of our family," highlighting a "deeper set of relationships there."

The controversy surrounding Marilyn Manson escalated significantly approximately six years after Corgan and Manson reconciled. In 2021, actress Evan Rachel Wood publicly named Manson as her alleged abuser, following years of her advocacy against domestic violence. Her accusation prompted several other women to come forward with their own claims of sexual assault and misconduct against the musician. Manson has consistently and vehemently denied all of these claims. Wood's initial Instagram post alleged, "The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson. He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years. I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission. I am done living in fear of retaliation, slander or blackmail." In response, Manson stated that the claims were "horrible distortions of reality" and maintained that his "intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners."

Despite the dismissal of criminal charges, Manson continues to face civil lawsuits from some of his accusers. In January, his former assistant, Ashley Walters, successfully reopened her sexual assault lawsuit against him for a second time, after two previous dismissals. He also settled a case with Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco in 2023, and another case filed by model Ashley Morgan Smithline was dismissed the same year. Manson continues to deny all allegations in these civil cases, just as he has denied Wood's initial accusations that led to the wave of women coming forward.

The article concludes by reminding readers that support for victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse is available through organizations like the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), which offers free, confidential support via its National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) and website.