Slipknot Fans Threaten Boycott Over Marilyn Manson Support Slot on New World Tour

Slipknot have unveiled plans for a major world tour, but the announcement has been overshadowed by a backlash from parts of their fanbase over the decision to book Marilyn Manson as a supporting act.

The masked heavy metal outfit, which comprises eight members, will be joined by the American rock musician at a headline show at London's Wembley Stadium as well as on several dates during the South American leg of the run. Metalcore outfit Hatebreed will also appear on the bill for the London concert.

News of the line-up was shared through an Instagram post, and the reaction was swift and sharply divided, with thousands of fans responding in the comments beneath the announcement.

A vocal contingent expressed anger and disappointment, with numerous self-described long-time followers of the band vowing to stay away from the shows altogether in protest at Manson's involvement.

One user wrote that they would have loved to attend but that there was nothing that could persuade them to put money into Manson's pockets, while another described the booking as a huge letdown and confirmed they would not be buying tickets.

The strength of feeling reflects the allegations that have surrounded the 57-year-old musician, whose real name is Brian Warner, for several years.

In 2021, the actress Evan Rachel Wood publicly accused Manson of abuse. Wood, who was in a relationship with the singer for around three years from 2007, alleged that he had horrifically abused and manipulated her, saying she had decided to speak out in order to warn others about a dangerous man.

Manson responded at the time by rejecting the claims, characterising them as horrible distortions of reality and insisting that his intimate relationships had always been entirely consensual. He has consistently and strongly denied all allegations made against him.

Following Wood's statement, several other women came forward on social media with similar accounts accusing the musician of abuse.

Wood later featured in Phoenix Rising, a documentary series released in 2022 that centred on her allegations against Manson and examined the wider questions raised by her decision to come forward.

The dispute subsequently moved into the courts, with Manson suing Wood and another woman for defamation. He accused them of impersonating FBI agents and of forging federal documents as part of their efforts against him.

A judge dismissed a number of the claims he had brought, and in 2024 the case was eventually settled, with Manson agreeing to cover Wood's legal fees as part of the resolution.

Separately, authorities in Los Angeles confirmed last year that they would not pursue criminal charges against Manson. The decision followed a four-year investigation into accusations of domestic abuse and sexual assault involving multiple women.

The district attorney's office explained that the domestic abuse allegations fell outside the statute of limitations and that it had not been possible to prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt. The outcome meant no criminal case would proceed, although it did not amount to any judgment on the underlying allegations themselves.

Not all of the reaction to the tour announcement has been negative. Some fans pushed back against the criticism, arguing that the two artists share a huge fanbase overlap and that Manson, a veteran of the shock-rock scene, is a perfect support act for a band with Slipknot's theatrical appeal and aggressive sound.

That defence highlights a tension within heavy music audiences, where loyalty to provocative and controversial figures has long coexisted with a growing willingness among younger and more vocal sections of the fanbase to hold artists accountable over abuse claims.

The controversy also raises questions for the promoters and for Slipknot themselves. Live Nation UK, which is promoting the London date, has yet to comment publicly, and the band's representatives have not offered a response to the criticism so far.

Stadium shows of the scale of Wembley represent a significant commercial undertaking, and a visible fan boycott could have financial as well as reputational consequences, particularly if the anger expressed on social media translates into unsold tickets.

At the same time, the attention generated by the dispute has ensured that the tour announcement has reached a far wider audience than a typical tour reveal, cutting through to mainstream news coverage and reigniting debate about the musician's past.

For now, Slipknot have given no indication that they intend to alter the line-up, and the South American dates and the London show remain scheduled as announced. BBC Newsbeat has contacted Marilyn Manson's representatives and Live Nation UK for comment.