Evan Rachel Wood says that she was groomed by goth-rock musician Marilyn Manson when she was just 18 years old — followed by Manson love-bombing her and isolating her from her family. Manson was 37. Wood told British Elle (via People) in 2007 that they met at a Los Angeles party in the Chateau Marmont. In her documentary “Phoenix Rising,” Wood recalls, “I didn’t know what being preyed upon was. I didn’t know what being groomed was.”
The “Westworld” actor says the torture began when she was in Manson’s music video for “Heart-Shaped Glasses.” The song is inspired by Vladimir Nabokov’s 1954 novel “Lolita,” about a pedophile’s relationship with a 12-year-old girl. Romanticizing Nabokov’s novel is one disturbing facet of a horrifying situation. Wood alleges in her documentary “Phoenix Rising” (via People), “I was coerced into a commercial sex act under false pretenses. That’s when the first crime was committed against me, and I was essentially raped on camera.” She said Manson made her speak positively about the video in the press, and that his violence continued for years after this assault.
Although it has been over a decade since their relationship ended, Wood still, understandably, has struggled to cope. “I am not OK because no matter how much work I do I’m still searching for some sort of peace, and I’m searching to feel safe,” she shared in her social media campaign #IAmNotOK (via NME), “and I’m still trying to put all of this behind me, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be fully able to do that.”
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
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Nicki
