Actress Esmé Bianco has accused shock rocker Marilyn Manson, her former boyfriend, of sexual battery, sexual assault and breaches of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
On Wednesday, attorneys for Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, called for the lawsuit to be thrown out because the statute of limitations had run its course.
Bianco, best known for her role as Ros in Game of Thrones, has stated that some of these events took place in 2009 and 2011, which Manson's lawyers say is outside the statute of limitations for these kinds of crimes in California.
The motion filed by Manson's legal team, which has been seen by Insider, states that Bianco is "cynically and dishonestly seeking to monetize and exploit the #MeToo movement" with her claims.
What Esmé Bianco Alleges About Marilyn Manson
Bianco's lawsuit—which was filed in April and also names Manson's former manager, Tony Ciulla, and Ciulla's management company—states that she had met Manson in 2005, when he married to Dita Von Teese.
According to the lawsuit, Manson suggested film project ideas to Bianco while he was married and then, after his divorce in 2007, made "sexual overtures" to her, requesting nude photographs.
The court documents allege that he continued to suggest film projects they could work on that did not materialize—until, in 2009, he flew the British-born actress to Los Angeles to work on the video for his song "I Want To Kill You Like They Do In the Movies."
The lawsuit adds: "Upon arrival, Ms. Bianco found that there was no crew present and she was expected to stay at Mr. Warner's home" for the shoot. Bianco alleges that she was plied with drugs and alcohol, and deprived of food and sleep, during filming.
The lawsuit accuses the rock star of tying her up, beating her with a whip and electrocuting her, as well as threatening to come to her room and rape her during the night.
Bianco said she was worried that if she protested her professional opportunities would be affected and she was convinced that Manson was just "eccentric."
She states that she has never seen the footage filmed and, to her knowledge, this music video has never been released.
Manson and Bianco began a relationship in May 2009, during which she alleges that he degraded her in public, making her sit at his feet during appearances.
Although their sexual relationship was consensual, Bianco has also accused him of bruising and biting Bianco without consent.
They then began a long-distance relationship, during which time Bianco claimed Manson was securing her a visa to work and live with him in the U.S.
She went to the U.S. in 2011, but alleges that he used this visa as a way to control and manipulate her.
According to the lawsuit, Manson kept her in a dark apartment, locking her inside, depriving her of sleep and frequently verbally abusing her. On one occasion, he allegedly chased her around the apartment with an ax.
She also alleges that he cut her with a knife during sex—then photographed the cuts and posted them online without her consent.
The lawsuit accuses Manson of breaking the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act by forcing Bianco to work unpaid and insinuating that she must provide him with sexual intimacy. She also alleges that he raped her and had sexual contact with her while she was unconscious.
Bianco said she escaped the apartment in July 2011.
She is also suing Ciulla, claiming that the manager and his company "benefited financially from allowing the abuse to continue."
She alleges that they supported his actions "to encourage the creation of his 'art'" and only parted ways from him in February 2021, when abuse allegations were made public.
The court documents state that Bianco is still dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, and is coming forward now after taking "years to understand the extent" of the alleged abuse.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood, who was once engaged to Manson, and a number of other women have accused the rock star of abuse. Manson has denied all the allegations against him.
Newsweek has contacted representatives for Manson and Bianco for comment.
