Esmé Bianco has filed a lawsuit against singer Marilyn Manson alleging he committed sexual assault and battery against her. Manson has denied previous claims of abuse from multiple women.
Bianco’s suit alleges that Manson broke trafficking laws by luring her to the U.S. from London with the promise of work that never materialized. She’s the first person to sue Manson after Westworld actor Evan Rachel Wood accused him of domestic abuse. More than a dozen other women have made similar claims.
The 38-year-old is most famous for her recurring role as Ros, a prostitute who played a significant role in the first three seasons of HBO‘s hit fantasy series Game of Thrones.
Bianco featured in the series pilot in a scene alongside Peter Dinklage, who played the popular character Tyrion Lannister.
According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Bianco was originally supposed to appear in just one episode but her performance convinced the showrunners to make Ros a recurring character until she was killed off in the sixth episode of the third season.
As Ros, Bianco played a role in some of the show’s so-called “sexposition” scenes – where plot exposition takes place against a backdrop of sex and/or nudity. The frequency of nudity in Game of Thrones was controversial as was one scene where Bianco’s character beat another prostitute.
Bianco was born the U.K. and studied drama and theatre arts at Goldsmiths, University of London. She has featured in music videos by British singer and former Take That member Robbie Williams and American thrash metal band Slayer.
She has also enjoyed a modeling career and fronted campaigns for lingerie brands like Agent Provocateur and Modern Courtesan, while performing in burlesque and cabaret shows.
Manson, whose given name is Brian Warner, first met Bianco in 2005 and her lawsuit alleges that he invited her to Los Angeles, California in 2009 to film a music video but that when she arrived she was expected to stay at Manson’s home and there was no film crew, according to the BBC.
“Perhaps most horrifyingly, Mr Warner locked Ms Bianco in the bedroom, tied her to a prayer kneeler, and beat her with a whip that Mr Warner said was utilized by the Nazis. He also electrocuted her,” the lawsuit says.
While Bianco says they had a consensual sexual relationship, in May, 2009, Manson allegedly coerced her into sexual intercourse that the lawsuit says was often violent and degrading. It further claims that Manson committed sexual battery against her multiple times in 2011 and that he raped her in May of that year.
“These claims are provably false,” Manson’s attorney Howard E. King said in a statement on Friday. “To be clear, this suit was only filed after my client refused to be shaken down by Ms. Bianco and her lawyer and give in to their outrageous financial demands based on conduct that simply never occurred. We will vigorously contest these allegations in court and are confident that we will prevail.”
“For far too long my abuser has been left unchecked, enabled by money, fame and an industry that turned a blind eye,” Bianco said in a statement sent to Newsweek through her attorneys.
“Despite the numerous brave women who have spoken out against Marilyn Manson, countless survivors remain silenced, and some of their voices will never be heard. My hope is that by raising mine I will help to stop Brian Warner from shattering any more lives and empower other victims to seek their own small measure of justice.”
“I am inspired by Ms. Bianco’s courage and dedication to holding Brian Warner accountable,” attorney Jay Ellwanger said. “While we understand that the criminal investigations are still ongoing, it is vital that we pursue every possible avenue to hold him accountable for the horrific acts he committed.”
Manson responded to the multiple allegations made against him in an Instagram post on February 1, saying: “Obviously, my art and my life have long been magnets for controversy but these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality. My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners.”
Manson was dropped by his record label and his booking agents following the allegations earlier this year.
Newsweek has asked Howard E. King, the attorney representing Marilyn Manson, for comment.
5/1/21 11.22am ET.: This article has been updated to include a statement from Esmé Bianco and her attorney, Jay Ellwanger.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
