Ashley Morgan Smithline is the fourth woman to sue Marilyn Manson for sexual abuse, among other allegations.
Lawsuits against Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, have already been filed by "Game of Thrones" actress Esmé Bianco, Manson's former personal assistant Ashley Walters, and a woman who chose to remain anonymous. Smithline now joins them in a legal battle against the rocker.
The model filed a lawsuit claiming sexual assault, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, human trafficking, unlawful imprisonment, and other allegations, according to Rolling Stone. Manson has denied all accusations.
According to the suit, Manson first made contact with Smithline in 2010, claiming he wanted to cast her in a remake of "True Romance." He lured her to Los Angeles with the promise of work, and convinced her to move in with him, she claims. By enticing Smithline to move to Los Angeles with such assurances, Manson was violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, Smithline states.
"Mr. Warner knew these offers to be fraudulent. No effort was made to complete production of the film project and to date nothing from that project has been published," the suit reads. "Mr. Warner merely used the film project as a pretense to lure Ms. Smithline to the United States."
The tone of their relationship soon changed. Smithline says she woke up one day to find Manson having intercourse with her while her wrists and ankles were bound. She reportedly told him to stop, but he told her to "shut the f*ck up." Shortly after the incident, Smithline alledges Manson choked her and forced her onto his bed, where he put a pillow over her head after she repeatedly told him no. He then reportedly cut her shoulder and inner arm with a knife.
Smithline further claims Manson branded her with his initials, bit her, whipped her, and threatened her life when she said she was leaving him. He also blackmailed her with photos he took of her that were sexual in nature, the suit claims.
"We strongly deny Ms. Smithline’s claims," a rep for Manson said in a statement to Rolling Stone. "There are so many falsehoods within her claims that we wouldn’t know where to begin to answer them. This relationship, to the limited extent it was a relationship, lasted less than a week in 2010. Manson hasn’t seen Ms. Smithline since then."
Speaking with People, Smithline said she filed the lawsuit in an effort to seek justice.
"It has been important for me to come forward the way I have because I live in constant fear even to this day," she said. "I am seeking justice because I want to move forward and heal from the terrible abuse I faced. I want Brian Warner to be held accountable once and for all."
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