Culture 3 min read By Lauren Baxter
Billy Corgan Says He Stood by Marilyn Manson Because He Did Not Believe Him Guilty
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman says he remained friends with Marilyn Manson despite sexual abuse and domestic violence lawsuits, because he did not believe the musician was guilty of the charges.
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan says he has remained close to longtime collaborator Marilyn Manson despite a series of sexual misconduct and domestic violence lawsuits filed against the singer over the years. Speaking on the New York Times’ “Popcast” podcast, Corgan said his decision to stand by Manson rests on his own assessment of the case rather than on public opinion.
“I personally didn’t feel he was guilty of the things he was being charged with,” Corgan said of Manson, who has been accused of sexual abuse, domestic violence and other misconduct by Evan Rachel Wood and other women. “Ultimately the fact is that the D.A. didn’t pursue” the case, Corgan added, pointing to the decision by prosecutors not to bring charges. He framed the friendship as a personal matter. “I don’t want the world to tell me who my friends are,” he said.
Corgan’s remarks place him among the few high-profile musicians who have publicly defended Manson while the allegations remain part of the singer’s public record. The accusations, which have circulated for years, span sexual misconduct and domestic violence claims. Corgan did not offer specific details about the allegations or the legal proceedings in the interview, and the lack of a criminal filing by prosecutors is the basis he gave for his view.
The comments also fed into a wider debate in the entertainment industry about how peers should respond to artists facing allegations that have not resulted in criminal convictions. Corgan’s position, that personal friendships should not be dictated by outside judgment, runs counter to the growing expectation in music and film circles that collaborators distance themselves from artists accused of abuse. Reaction to his remarks has centered on whether a prosecutor’s decision not to pursue charges should settle the question of guilt for those who know an accused person.
Corgan’s defense also reflects how long-standing working relationships in rock music can outlast public controversy. Manson and Corgan have been connected through their place in the alternative rock scene that flourished in the 1990s, and Corgan’s willingness to speak on the subject in a major national interview has kept the friendship in the spotlight. Corgan has not indicated whether he plans to address the allegations further or change his stance.
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