Alice Cooper was recently asked about a friend of his who happened to be in the headlines, Marilyn Manson. Manson has been accused of harassment and abuse by over 10 different women, leading to investigations from both the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the FBI.
In a new interview with NME, Cooper said of Manson:
“It’s funny about Marilyn in that I know Marilyn — when we toured together, we got along very well. I never noticed that streak in him, if it’s there. I always believe in the word — still, allegations are still allegations.”
Cooper went on to compare the accusations to a mutual friend, Johnny Depp, who was accused of his ex-wife, Amber Heard of abuse.
“First of all, here’s a prime example: Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp and I are best friends. I’ve never seen him lift a finger against anybody. He’s one of the most gentle people. And all of his former girlfriends and wives say the same thing. So it’s really hard to believe that all of a sudden he’s gonna turn into this monster. And I know the guy — I’m with the guy on tour all the time. He’s one of the most gentle, harmless people I’ve ever met.
“Now I don’t know Marilyn, though, as well as I know Johnny. So what happens in the bedroom is entirely a mystery to me for what’s going on with Marilyn.”
You can hear the entire interview below.
On February 1st, actress Evan Rachel Wood publicly named Manson as her abuser, after previously detailing being mentally and physically tortured by an older man when she was 18-years-old. You can see the details of her accusations here. She later elaborated that Manson "started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years," adding "I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission." Wood released a second statement accusing Manson and his current wife of trying to blackmail her into silence. One of Manson's former personal assistants has backed her claims and alleged Manson is abusing his current wife.
Wood began signal-boosting other women who spoke of the abuse they alleged Manson caused to them. Another accuser has since come forward saying Manson pulled a gun on her and accused him of drugging his girlfriend at the time.
Game Of Thrones Actress Esmé Bianco recently detailed an abusive affair she had with Manson that she says she is still recovering mentally from.
A French actress, Bianca Allaine, has said Manson forced a kiss on her and friends when she was 16, and detailed a tumultuous three month relationship she had with him at age 19.
Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland, who played with Manson in 1998, was the first artist to speak out, and said that everything Wood was saying was true. Trent Reznor released a statement denouncing him. Another musician, Phoebe Bridgers, revealed she went over to Manson's house as a teenager and he joked of having "a rape room."
Otep has said earlier this week that Manson's current wife Usich used to call Otep's previous girlfriend in hysterics claiming Manson was drugged and abusive. A former personal assistant of Manson's also is claiming Manson is abusing his current wife.
Manson's previous wife, Dita Von Teese responded to concern from fans by addressing the situation, saying she was never abused by Manson. Sharon Osbourne also spoke positively of her relationship with Manson but said she did not keep tabs on his personal life. Actor Corey Feldman accused Manson of emotional abuse.
