Marilyn Manson's U.K. Tour Opener Canceled Amid Backlash

Yahoo

2 days ago

The opening date of Marilyn Manson U.K. tour—originally set for Oct. 29 at the Brighton Centre—has officially been canceled following public backlash, political pressure and an open letter from a member of Parliament urging city officials to pull the show.
On Saturday, fans who went online to contact Ticketmaster received a message saying 'this event has been cancelled.' The show was also removed from Manson's official website, confirming that the U.K. leg of the One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 Tour will now begin on Oct. 31 in Bournemouth.
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The cancellation follows a formal letter from Green MP Siân Berry, addressed to Brighton & Hove City Council leader Councillor Bella Sankey, calling for the show to be canceled at the publicly owned venue. The letter was co-signed by victim support organizations and the University of Sussex Student Union.
In the letter, Berry cited 'multiple allegations of sexual assault, grooming and domestic violence' made against Manson in recent years. 'Many survivors in Brighton and Hove, and organizations 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,' Berry wrote. '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.'
An activist group called No Stage for Abusers also urged Brighton Centre and the city council to cancel the show through an online campaign. Manson—whose legal name is Brian Warner—was named in 2021 by actress Evan Rachel Wood as her alleged abuser, leading to more women coming forward with similar claims. Multiple civil lawsuits have since been filed against the singer, accusing him of sexual assault, harassment, and grooming. Manson has denied all allegations.
In January, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that it would not file criminal charges, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations and insufficient evidence. The alleged incidents occurred between 2009 and 2011 in West Hollywood.
Berry acknowledged the absence of criminal charges but referenced council policies that support listening to survivors and protecting community safety.
'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,' she said. 'We believe a solution must be found and that, despite these difficulties, the Council should act in line with its obligations to our values and the serious concerns around public safety and community cohesion.'
Manson and his representatives have not yet commented publicly on the cancellation.
Stories about sexual assault allegations can be traumatizing for survivors of sexual assault. If you or anyone you know needs support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization's website for more information.
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