Shock rocker Marilyn Manson has been fined and ordered to do 20 hours community service after he pleaded no contest to a charge of blowing his nose on a videographer at a concert.
The 54-year-old, whose real name is Brian Warner, was charged with two misdemeanour counts of simple assault stemming from the encounter with the videographer at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on August 19, 2019.
His no contest plea, which means he does not contest the charge but does not admit guilt, was part of a deal that saw a charge he spat on the same woman dismissed.
He was fined £1,131 as part of the deal, with £161 suspended. He needs to remain arrest-free and notify local police of any New Hampshire performances for two years.
The judge agreed Manson could do his community service in California. He mentioned to reporters that he might choose to work with people in recovery.
According to a police affidavit, Manson approached videographer Susan Fountain in the venue’s stage pit area, put his face close to her camera and spat a “big lougee” at her.
She was struck on both hands with saliva. He approached her again later, kneeling and covering one nostril before blowing the other on her arms and hands.
Ms Fountain said via a statement that it was “the most disgusting thing a human being could have done”.
Manson emerged as a musical star in the mid-1990s, known as much for courting public controversy as for hit songs such as The Beautiful People and hit albums including 1996’s Antichrist Superstar and 1998’s Mechanical Animals.
In May, a California judge threw out key sections of Manson’s lawsuit against his former fiancee, Westworld actor Evan Rachel Wood, claiming she fabricated public allegations that he sexually and physically abused her during their relationship and encouraged other women to do the same.
He is appealing against the ruling.
Manson’s suit, filed last year, alleges Wood and another woman named as a defendant, Illma Gore, defamed Manson, intentionally caused him emotional distress and derailed his career in music, TV and film.
Several women have sued Manson in recent years with allegations of sexual and other abuse. Most have been dismissed or settled, including a suit filed by Game Of Thrones actor Esme Bianco.
