Marilyn Manson announced on October 24 that he and his band will be parting ways with Jeordie White, known as Twiggy Ramirez on stage, after allegations of sexual assault from his former girlfriend and current lead singer of Scarling, Jessica Fodera (Jessicka Addams).
Fodera posted a lengthy Facebook post on her page explaining her abusive relationship with White and how she “lived with the overwhelming shame and guilt of being raped for well over 20 years now.”
“Like many survivors, I unknowingly hid an abusive relationship in a most unhealthy way, masking it behind a fun-loving, creatively artistic facade I struggled to wear in the outside world. Since I roamed in similar musical circles and shared many friends with this rapist, the shock of bumping into him in social situations would leave me sick to my stomach,” she wrote. “I’d sometimes find myself drinking too much to pretend he was not there. […] I did not want him to own the power I assumed was his in every unwarranted encounter, so I eventually compartmentalized the recurring nightmares of running into my rapist, Jeordie White.”
The post continued by saying Fodera was told that her then-band would suffer consequences in the industry should she publically come out with her story. “[My band] was also warned of running the risk of losing our coveted record deal (which they gave us!!,) as they were certain no one would ever take a rape victim in this male-dominated music business seriously, nevermind a ferocious, disenfranchised, outspoken overweight frontwoman such as myself!” she wrote.
She was also told that Marilyn Manson and his band’s power would not only end her band but would ruin her name. These warnings forced her into silence for years.
Her band disbanded in 2000 but reunited for shows in 2015. During this time she was asked in an interview what she would say to her younger self, to which she replied, “Don’t allow anybody—especially your current boyfriend—to verbally ridicule you, psychically abuse and rape you, fat-shame you, break your spirit, make you second-guess yourself and ultimately steal your identity. Don’t worry: He’ll get trapped in the green dress he stole. It becomes his curse rather than a gift, trust me.”
She admitted in her post that though her answer may have seemed vague, many fans reached out to her with their own stories of assault. They also shared their love and support.
Fodera eventually came to the conclusion that she needed to share her story, which is what she did in her Facebook post.
She stated that she met White when she was 18, and due to an abusive past with her father, she was conditioned into believing that mistreatment and subservience were typical in a relationship. They moved in relatively quickly with a roommate named Pete and White began to abuse her more often. She claimed that he slashed her tires, burned her stuffed animals in an oven, and body-shamed her. However, she stayed with him due to her misconception of what a healthy relationship was.
She wrote that when White came back from tour with Marilyn Manson that they got into an argument that ended in him raping her. “I had been raped by somebody I thought I loved. That night I slept in Pete’s bed and cried myself to sleep. Neither of us discussed it until years later as we both had our own shame about not reporting it,” she said.
Maria Cruz
She concluded her post by saying that many people may have known White as the funny guy or someone who offered a kind gesture once in a while but that she knew another side of him, “For women to own our power we must stand up for each other. It’s the only way we can confront and combat men who think they hold power over us. I am thankful to know that there are men out there who do not share this gross ideology and stand with us. This is an intersectional uphill battle for women and the men who are scared for their reputation with other men to defend us.”
Her final statement read: “To those of you who are reading this and it has allowed you to come to terms with your demons, I am sending you all of the love in my heart, the support I can offer, and the respect you all so deserve.”
Manson announced in a tweet on October 24 that he would be parting ways with White: “I have decided to part ways with Jeordie White as a member of Marilyn Manson. He will be replaced for the upcoming tour. I wish him well.”
When Fodera saw the tweet she responded: “Thank you. I am truly at a loss for words.”
Fans supported Manson’s decision to let White go. “Marilyn made the uneasy, but right decision. I know it couldn’t have been easy since Jeordie was his friend of 25 years, but what Jeordie did (or at least was accused of) was inexcusable & disgusting. Justice is served. Shout out to Manson for doing the honourable, right thing,” one wrote. “THIS is how you handle things when your piece of s–t friend turns out to be a rapist/abuser. Never make excuses, no matter the relationship,” wrote another.
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