The director of the documentary “Marilyn Manson: Unmasked”, Karen McGann, recently spoke to NME about the mini-series. When asked if she considers Manson to be a cult leader, McGann replied:
“He had that ability to create this extraordinary devotion in people. There is definitely something cult-like about the devotion that he managed to get from his fans. He had extraordinary charisma. You look at forums now and there are countless accounts of people who are very vocal supporters of him. There is something kind of messianic about him and I think he very much leaned into that in the construction of his own image in the ‘90s.”
“He’s a smart individual and understood that he could represent something to people who felt underrepresented or disenfranchised. He made a very successful career out of that. Many of [his supporters] will be people who supported him in the ‘90s. And, I think, new fans as well.”
McGann’s documentary follows accusations made in 2021 against Mason by his ex-partner, actress Evan Rachel Wood.
“The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years. I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission.”
After Woods’ released her statement, a number of other women came forward with similar allegations against the musician. “Game of Thrones” actress Esme Bianco filed a lawsuit accusing Manson of s*xual assault and physical abuse. In 2023, Warner (aka Manson) and Bianco reached an out-of-court settlement.
