Marilyn Manson’s planned support act show at Wembley next summer has been condemned by a London councillor over past allegations of sexual assault and psychological abuse against the rock star.
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at Brent Council, Councillor Anton Georgiou, has called on the Labour administration to pressure Wembley Stadium to review the upcoming performance.
Manson, 57, whose real name is Brian Hugh Warner, is due to support Slipknot on their 2027 tour.
But past allegations of sexual assault and psychological abuse, detailed in the Channel 4 documentary Marilyn Manson: Unmasked, have prompted calls for the performance to be cancelled.
Multiple women, including Westworld actor Evan Rachel Wood, Game of Thrones actor Esmé Bianco and former personal assistant Ashley Walters, have made allegations about Manson through civil lawsuits in the US and public statements.
He faces a criminal trial next year on sexual assault allegations made by Ms Walters, but has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying the claims are false.
Cllr Georgiou said: “We cannot keep saying that tackling violence against women and girls is everyone’s business and then fail to ask difficult questions when it really matters. It’s disappointing that the council has not spoken out publicly about this.
“The allegations against Marilyn Manson are serious, and while he denies wrongdoing, Wembley Stadium needs to explain what consideration was given to them before this booking was confirmed.”
Cllr Anton Georgiou standing in front of Wembley Stadium.
LDRS
After Slipknot announced that Manson would be appearing at the July 3, 2027 performance, thousands of fans said they would boycott the show due to his involvement.
Cllr Georgiou added: “Wembley is a major institution in Brent. It has a responsibility to take these concerns seriously, not hide behind generic statements about safety and inclusion. I am asking the stadium to review this booking and be open about how the decision was made.
“This is not about censorship.”
A Brent Council spokesperson said: “Decisions about who performs at Wembley Stadium are ultimately a matter for the venue and event organisers, rather than Brent Council, which has no direct control over commercial bookings.
“That does not diminish our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, which has no place in Brent. We are crystal clear about our values, and that is why we devote significant time, resources and effort to preventing abuse, supporting survivors and making our borough safer.
“We recognise the concerns raised about this performance and would encourage the headline act and event organisers to reflect carefully on the feedback from Brent residents and survivors of violence and abuse when making decisions about their performers.
“Our commitment to standing up for women and girls is unwavering, and we will continue to demonstrate that through our actions.”
In response to the claims, Wembley Stadium explained that events at the venue are agreed several months in advance and that the selection of the support acts is at the discretion of the promoter and headline artist. They reiterated their commitment to the safety and wellbeing of their guests, colleagues and the wider community.
The stadium also noted that they are liaising with Cllr Georgiou and have begun a dialogue with the promoter regarding the performance.
But Janaya Walker, Interim Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said the stadium needs to make a stand: “Multiple women have reported being subjected to sexual assault and domestic abuse by Marilyn Manson, who continues to be celebrated and profit from major concert performances, including at the UK’s biggest stadium.
“Ending violence against women and girls is both everyone’s business and everyone’s responsibility.”