The Federal Government is examining Marilyn Manson’s planned visit to Australia as the American rock musician faces a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit in the United States.
The Department of Home Affairs told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that it was “looking into” Manson’s visa after the controversial performer faced a furious backlash over his return to Australia for a scheduled tour.
Manson, 57, whose real name is Brian Warner, announced on Wednesday that he would return Down Under in February 2027. The tour is set to include performances in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.
It will be the musician’s first visit to Australia in 12 years.
The announcement quickly triggered a wave of criticism online, with opponents highlighting the long-running sexual assault lawsuit against him in the United States.
Manson is facing a civil lawsuit brought by his former personal assistant, Ashley Walters, who has accused him of sexual assault as well as physical and emotional abuse.
Controversial rocker Marilyn Manson (pictured) has faced outrage after announcing plans to return to Australia for the first time in 12 years
The case was revived earlier this year after a judge overturned an earlier dismissal, allowing Walters to continue pursuing her claims under a new California law that reopened the window for certain older sexual assault cases.
In August, a Los Angeles judge scheduled the case for a jury trial beginning on November 15, 2027. That means the legal dispute could continue long after Manson’s planned Australian tour.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Manson has denied any wrongdoing.
His Australian tour announcement has nevertheless reignited debate over whether the musician should be allowed to perform on local stages.
Australian journalist and victim advocate Sherele Moody was among those to condemn the tour, issuing a strongly worded response to the announcement.
“Somehow, this man is allowed into Australia,” Moody wrote, criticising the venues and ticketing companies involved in the tour.
She also argued that Manson “should be banned from touring in Australia”.
Her comments attracted widespread support. One social media user said they had been a major Manson fan during their teenage years but could no longer support his work because of the allegations against him.
The announcement has sparked a wave of online backlash, with critics pointing to Manson’s long-running sexual assault lawsuit in the United States. (Pictured: Manson and his lawyer in court, September 2023)
Manson is facing a civil lawsuit filed by his former personal assistant Ashley Walters (pictured), who has accused him of sexual assault and physical and emotional abuse
“I was a huge fan of Manson when I was much younger (16-18) but no way should people support his work,” the user wrote.
Another questioned how the rocker had obtained a visa to enter Australia, while a third described it as “disgusting that he’s allowed in the country”.
Other critics directed their anger at fans planning to attend the concerts. “Instant loss of respect for anyone paying to see [him],” one person wrote.
‘I just don’t understand why people would choose to idolise humans of his calibre, or lack thereof. Yuck,’ another added.
One Brisbane-based commenter also called for the tour to be stopped, writing: ‘Why are we allowing this man here? This is disgraceful! Brisbane does not want him! It’s a slap in the face to all women!’
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Another urged authorities to intervene, saying: ‘You have the power to do something about this.’
Manson is no stranger to controversy, with multiple women making allegations of abuse against him in recent years.
In February 2021, his former fiancée, actress Evan Rachel Wood, publicly identified him as her alleged abuser, prompting a wave of further allegations from other women.
Among those speaking out against the tour is Australian journalist and victim advocate Sherele Moody (pictured), who delivered a scathing response to the announcement
Her post was met with an outpouring of support, with one user admitting they had been a huge Manson fan as a teenager but could no longer support his work given the allegations against him
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Manson vehemently denied the allegations and later sued Wood for defamation, accusing her of conspiring to damage his reputation.
He dropped his remaining lawsuit and appeal against Wood in November 2024 and agreed to pay almost US$327,000 in her legal fees. The outcome did not constitute a court finding that the allegations against him were true.
Wood revisited the allegations in recent interviews, as renewed attention was drawn to her account of the relationship in the 2022 documentary Phoenix Rising.
In the two-part HBO documentary, the Westworld actress alleged that Manson sexually assaulted her during the filming of his 2007 music video for Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand).
Wood claimed she had agreed to film a simulated sex scene, but alleged that Manson began penetrating her for real once the cameras were rolling.
‘I had never agreed to that,’ she said in the documentary, describing the experience as deeply traumatising.
Manson denied the allegation, with his lawyer insisting that he did not have sex with Wood during the shoot.
In February 2021, his former fiancée, actress Evan Rachel Wood (left), publicly identified him as her alleged abuser, prompting a wave of further allegations from other women
More recently, Wood has spoken about the lasting impact of the relationship and the intimidation she claims she has experienced since coming forward.
In an interview with The Times of London published in April, she alleged that she continued to be followed by cars and receive repeated phone calls and phishing attempts years after publicly accusing Manson of ‘abuse’.
She also described his inner circle as operating ‘very much like a cult’, alleging that she had been subjected to surveillance and controlling behaviour during their relationship.
Manson has consistently denied Wood’s allegations, maintaining that his intimate relationships were consensual.
Actress Esmé Bianco, best known for her role in Game of Thrones, also filed a lawsuit against Manson in 2021, alleging sexual assault and other abuse.
The case was settled in 2023 without a trial verdict on the allegations.