Rocker Manson Accused of Spitting, Blowing Snot on Woman

Marilyn Manson. (AP)
Marilyn Manson. (AP)
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Rocker Manson Accused of Spitting, Blowing Snot on Woman

Marilyn Manson. (AP)
Marilyn Manson. (AP)

Rocker Marilyn Manson approached a videographer at his 2019 concert in New Hampshire and allegedly spit and blew snot on her, according to a police affidavit released Wednesday.

Manson, whose legal name is Brian Hugh Warner, surrendered last month to police in Los Angeles in connection with a 2019 arrest warrant in the case. The allegations were detailed in the affidavit that released along with the criminal complaint in the case.

Manson is charged with two misdemeanor counts of simple assault stemming from an alleged incident on Aug. 19, 2019, at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford. The misdemeanor charges can each result in a jail sentence of less than a year and a $2,000 fine if convicted.

An arraignment hearing on the charges will be scheduled for Sept. 2 at Laconia District Court in New Hampshire.

Manson’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Susan Fountain, a videographer, was in the venue’s stage pit area at the time of the alleged assault. Her company, Metronome Media, was contracted by the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion for the concert season.

According to the affidavit, Manson approached Fountain the first time, put his face close to the camera and spit a “big lougee” at her. She was struck on both hands with saliva.

Manson allegedly returned a second time, covering one side of his nostril and blowing in Fountain’s direction. Fountain put down her camera and went to the restroom to wash her hands and arms that had Manson’s bodily fluids on them.

Manson also has faced abuse accusations — unrelated to the New Hampshire incident — in recent years. He has denied wrongdoing.

In February, actor Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused Manson, her ex-fiancé, of sexual and other physical abuse, alleging she was “manipulated into submission” during their relationship. Months later, “Game of Thrones” actor Esmé Bianco sued Manson in federal court in Los Angeles, alleging sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

The AP generally does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted, but Bianco and Wood have spoken publicly.

In 2018, Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to file charges against Manson over allegations of assault, battery and sexual assault dating to 2011, saying they were limited by statutes of limitations and a lack of corroboration. The accuser in that case was identified only as a social acquaintance of Manson.



Berlin Film Festival Organizers Unveil 2025 Competition Line-up

File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
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Berlin Film Festival Organizers Unveil 2025 Competition Line-up

File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

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Richard Linklater's new feature about a Broadway composer, a documentary about young people in war-torn Ukraine and a homage to 1960s' spy films were among the films unveiled on Tuesday as part of the 2025 Berlin Film Festival's competition line-up.

"This is a major A-list festival with a thriving market," said new festival director Tricia Tuttle, with guests from more than 150 countries coming to the 75th edition of the festival, Reuters reported.

The 19 films in contention for the festival's Golden Bear top prize feature several directors making their return to the German capital, including Romania's Radu Jude, with his new dark comedy "Kontinental '25," and South Korea's Hong Sang-soo with his languorous family comedy "What Does that Nature Say to You".

Linklater, the US director known for "Before Sunrise," makes a buzzy return to the festival after more than a decade with "Blue Moon," about composer Lorenz Hart - the other half of famous songwriting team Rodgers and Hart - with an all-star cast including Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley and Andrew Scott.

"Reflection in a Dead Diamond" is Belgium-based duo Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani's maximalist spy feature, while "Dreams" stars Jessica Chastain as an heiress who falls in love with a Mexican ballet dancer, and "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You" about a child's mysterious illness features Rose Byrne along with late-show TV host Conan O'Brien and rapper ASAP Rocky.

"Timestamp" is Kateryna Gornostai's observational documentary about life in Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion marks one of the more overtly political entries this year.

POLITICS AS USUAL?

The Berlin Film Festival, which this year runs from Feb. 13 to 23, is considered more political than its peers - Cannes, Venice, Sundance and Toronto.

"We do not shy away from this. It's arguably in the DNA of the city itself and also in the festival itself," US-born Tuttle told reporters.

The festival ends on the day of Germany's national election, though Tuttle said it does not plan to mark the event in any way other than encouraging people to vote.

Outside the competition, Oscar-winning "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi "Mickey 17" with Robert Pattison will have its German premiere during the festival, as will James Mangold's Bob Dylan biopic with Timothee Chalamet "A Complete Unknown".

Tuttle took charge amid financial uncertainty at the festival, which had to slim down its program last year, and Berlin slashed its 2025 culture budget by millions of euros.

However, ahead of Tuesday's news conference, Germany's culture ministry said it would contribute an extra 1.9 million euros ($1.97 million) to the festival for its 75th anniversary.

That boost "allows us to deliver the festival with a balanced budget this year and... to relive the festival in the way that we want to in this anniversary year," said Tuttle.

US director Todd Haynes heads the international jury that will award this year's top prize. "Run Lola Run" director Tom Tykwer's new film "The Light" will open the festival.