LOS ANGELES (CNS) – “Game of Thrones” actress Esme Bianco sued rock singer Marilyn Manson today in Los Angeles for alleged sexual assault and sexual battery in what she described as a series of violent encounters.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, had used “fraudulent offers of movie and music video roles to convince Ms. Bianco to travel to Los Angeles, whereupon Mr. Warner then made threats of force and performed violent sexual acts on Ms. Bianco to which she did not consent.”
Also named in the suit is Warner’s former manager, Tony Ciulla, who is accused along with his management company of violating trafficking laws. Warner’s attorney, Howard E. King, said the allegations have no merit.
“These claims are provably false,” King said in a statement provided to City News Service. “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.”
According to the lawsuit, Bianco, 38, was invited to Los Angeles from the United Kingdom by Warner with the promise of work, and after moving into the goth rocker’s West Hollywood apartment in 2011, she was not allowed to eat, sleep or leave without his permission.
“Mr. Warner raped Ms. Bianco in or around May 2011,” the suit alleges.
Bianco portrayed Ros in 14 episodes of “Game of Thrones” between 2011 and 2013.
In February, actress Evan Rachel Wood accused Warner of sexual and physical abuse during their relationship, which lasted from January 2007 until August 2010. His record label, Loma Vista Recordings, dropped him following Wood’s accusation.
Warner denied Wood’s allegations in a social media post. After Wood’s accusations, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that its Special Victims Bureau was investigating the 52-year-old Warner for alleged domestic violence.
