A fourth woman has filed a lawsuit againstMarilyn Mansonaccusing him of abuse.
Ashley Morgan Smithline— the model who, in a May PEOPLE cover story, claimed she facedpsychological, sexual and physical abusewhile dating the rocker — filed a complaint against the singer born Brian Hugh Warner on Tuesday, alleging sex trafficking and additional sexual abuse.
“It has been important for me to come forward the way I have because I live in constant fear even to this day,” Smithline tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I am seeking justice because I want to move forward and heal from the terrible abuse I faced. I want Brian Warner to be held accountable once and for all.”
“Warner… grabbed a knife next to the bed and began cutting Ms. Smithline’s shoulder, inner arm, and stomach,” the complaint alleges. “The cuts drew blood and caused Ms. Smithline to go into shock. To this day, Ms. Smithline bears the scars of Mr. Warner’s cuts.”
Ashley Smithline; Marilyn Manson.Jana Cruder; Richard Shotwell/INvision/AP/Shutterstock
In a statement to PEOPLE following the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Manson “strongly” denies Smithline’s lawsuit allegations, adding, “there are so many falsehoods within her claims that we wouldn’t know where to begin to answer them.”
“This relationship, to the limited extent it was a relationship, lasted less than a week in 2010,” the statement continues. “Manson hasn’t seen Ms. Smithline since then.”
Ashley Morgan Smithline.Jana Cruder
“Ms. Smithline endured threats to her life while with Mr. Warner and suffered threats to her life when Mr. Warner felt she would leave him. Mr. Warner manipulated Ms. Smithline into a state of near-total isolation, both physically and emotionally,” the complaint reads. “Once isolated, Mr. Warner exercised complete control over Ms. Smithline; her continued involvement in the relationship was borne out of this severe mental duress.”
Smithline is one of more than a dozen women who have accused Manson of sexual abuse. Three other women have filed lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse against the singer thus far —actress Esmé Bianco, hisformer assistant Ashley Waltersand awoman who did not disclose her identity.
Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty
Smithline’s new lawsuit comes just several days after Gilford Police Chief Anthony Bean Burpeeannounced that they had reached an agreement with Manson’s attorneyfor him to turn himself in on assault charges after he was accused of spitting and shooting snot at a videographer during a concert.
As for Smithline, themodel opened up to PEOPLEabout the alleged abuse in May.
“He cut me on my stomach and then drank my blood. Then, he had me drink his,” she told PEOPLE. “The more I let him hurt me, the more I loved him and the more I was proving myself to him.”
“If I had to pee while he was replaying one of his songs I’d heard 30,000 times, I’d have to be locked in the box,” she added. “I was malnourished and cold.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
