Slipknot Marilyn Manson tour sparks fan backlash over Wembley support slot

Slipknot have announced a new world tour with Marilyn Manson among the support acts, prompting an angry reaction from some fans over past sexual abuse accusations against the US rock musician. BBC News reported on 28 September that Manson will support the eight-piece heavy metal band at London's Wembley Stadium and on multiple dates during the South American leg of the tour.

Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, has always strongly denied the allegations against him. According to BBC News, thousands of fans responded to an Instagram post revealing the line-up for the London concert, which also includes metalcore band Hatebreed. Some welcomed the support choices, but many criticised Manson's inclusion and some long-time Slipknot fans said they would not buy tickets in protest.

• Headline act: Slipknot, the eight-piece heavy metal band known for performing in masks.
• London support: Marilyn Manson and Hatebreed are on the Wembley Stadium line-up.
• Other appearances: Manson is also due to support Slipknot on multiple South American dates.
• Fan reaction: Some fans have said they will not attend because of Manson's inclusion.
• Manson's position: He has always strongly denied the allegations against him.

Slipknot Marilyn Manson tour announcement divides fans

The reaction to the line-up has included both criticism and support. BBC News reported that many replies to Slipknot's Instagram announcement described the decision to include Manson as “disappointing”. Some people identifying themselves as long-time fans said they would stay away from the show rather than financially support a bill featuring him.

One fan wrote: “Would've loved to see this but there's literally nothing you could do to get my cash in Manson's pockets.” Another described the announcement as “such a disappointment” and said they would not be attending. The responses were not universally negative, however. Other fans expressed excitement about the support acts, while one commenter pointed to what they described as a “huge fanbase overlap” between Slipknot and Manson and called him a “perfect support act”.

The Wembley Stadium show places Manson on a bill with Slipknot and Hatebreed, while his involvement also extends to multiple concerts on the South American portion of Slipknot's newly announced world tour. No date, ticket price or on-sale time for the Wembley show has been announced.

Timeline of the allegations, denials and legal outcomes

Manson was publicly accused of abuse by actress Evan Rachel Wood, who had been in a three-year relationship with the singer from 2007. In 2021, Wood alleged that he had “horrifically abused” and “manipulated” her, and said she was speaking publicly to warn others about “a dangerous man”, BBC News reported.

Manson rejected the accusations. He said the claims were “horrible distortions of reality” and that his “intimate relationships had always been entirely consensual”. Several other women also came forward on social media at the time with similar statements accusing him of abuse. Wood later appeared in the 2022 documentary series Phoenix Rising, which focused on her allegations.

Year	What happened
2021	Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused Manson of abuse. Manson denied the claims and said his intimate relationships had always been consensual. Several other women made similar accusations on social media.
2022	Wood appeared in the documentary series Phoenix Rising, which focused on her allegations. Manson sued Wood and another woman for defamation, accusing them of impersonating FBI agents and forging federal documents.
2024	After a judge dismissed some of Manson's claims, he eventually settled the case and agreed to pay Wood's legal fees.
2025	Los Angeles prosecutors said they would not bring criminal charges against Manson following a four-year investigation into accusations of domestic abuse and sexual assault involving multiple women.

BBC News reported that the Los Angeles district attorney's office said domestic abuse charges fell “outside of the statute of limitations”. Prosecutors also said they were unable to “prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt”. The decision not to bring criminal charges followed the four-year investigation.

What happened in Manson's case against Evan Rachel Wood

After Wood's allegations became public, Manson sued her and another woman for defamation. BBC News reported that his case included accusations that the women had impersonated FBI agents and forged federal documents. A judge subsequently dismissed some of Manson's claims.

The case did not proceed to a final trial judgment on the remaining claims. Manson eventually settled the case and agreed to pay Wood's legal fees in 2024, according to BBC News. That civil case was separate from the criminal investigation conducted by authorities in Los Angeles.

The following year, prosecutors announced that they would not bring criminal charges after investigating accusations involving multiple women. Their statement distinguished between the domestic abuse accusations, which they said were outside the applicable statute of limitations, and sexual assault accusations, which they said could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Why some Slipknot fans say they will not attend

The legal outcomes have not ended the disagreement surrounding Manson's return to prominent concert bills. The reaction to the Slipknot announcement shows that some listeners continue to object to his inclusion because of the past accusations, despite his denials and the decision by Los Angeles prosecutors not to file criminal charges.

BBC News reported that thousands of comments appeared beneath the Instagram post advertising the Wembley line-up. For those opposing the booking, the response went beyond criticism of the choice itself, with some saying directly that they would withhold their money and not attend. Other fans took the opposite view, arguing that the artists' audiences overlap and welcoming Manson as a support act.

The disagreement therefore centres on the decision to put Manson on the bill rather than on a change in the legal status of the allegations. He has consistently denied wrongdoing, while the criminal investigation concluded without charges for the reasons stated by prosecutors.

What have Slipknot and the promoters said so far?

Slipknot have not publicly addressed the criticism of Manson's inclusion. The line-up announcement itself confirms that Manson is due to appear at Wembley Stadium and on multiple South American dates, alongside Hatebreed at the London concert.

BBC Newsbeat has approached Manson's representatives and the concert promoters Live Nation UK for a response. Neither had responded publicly at the time of writing. Manson's established position on the historic accusations remains that he strongly denies them.

What happens next

For now, Manson remains part of the announced Slipknot world tour line-up, including the Wembley Stadium concert and multiple dates in South America. The public reaction has established a clear split between fans who welcome the pairing and others who say his presence means they will not attend.

Attention will now remain on whether Manson's representatives, Live Nation UK or Slipknot address the criticism publicly. BBC Newsbeat has sought comment from Manson's representatives and the promoter, while the announced line-up remains in place.

Frequently asked questions

Is Marilyn Manson supporting Slipknot at Wembley Stadium?

Yes. BBC News reported that Marilyn Manson is due to support Slipknot at London's Wembley Stadium, with metalcore band Hatebreed also on the line-up. Manson is additionally scheduled to appear on multiple dates during the South American leg of Slipknot's world tour.

Why are some Slipknot fans criticising the Marilyn Manson support slot?

Some fans have objected because of past sexual abuse accusations made against Manson and have said they will not attend. Manson has always strongly denied the allegations. Other fans have welcomed the booking and pointed to an overlap between the audiences of the two acts.

Was Marilyn Manson charged after the Los Angeles investigation?

No. Los Angeles prosecutors said in 2025 that they would not bring criminal charges after a four-year investigation. They said domestic abuse charges were outside the statute of limitations and that they could not prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt.

What happened to Marilyn Manson's lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood?

Manson sued Evan Rachel Wood and another woman for defamation, accusing them of impersonating FBI agents and forging federal documents. A judge dismissed some of his claims, and Manson eventually settled the case in 2024 and agreed to pay Wood's legal fees.