Rose McGowan and Marilyn Manson Called off Their Engagement Almost 20 Years Ago — a Look Back

August 15, 2020 | by Manuela Cardiga

#MeToo frontwoman Rose McGowan was once engaged to controversial rocker Marilyn Manson, and called off the wedding in 2001.

Almost 20 years ago, one of the figureheads of the #MeToo movement, Rose McGowan was engaged to controversial rocker Marilyn Manson.

The actress ended up calling off the wedding. Now 46, McGowan has opened up about what led her to end her relationship to Manson.

Years later, McGowan discussed the breakup with BRAVO talk show host Andy Cohen

Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan at the 1999 MTV Movie Awards in Santa Monica, California | Source: Getty Images

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Despite the bizarre image he has always cultivated., Manson, now 51, has always been seen with some of the most classically beautiful women in Hollywood. In 1998 that woman was a then-up-and-coming young actress named Rose McGowan.

The smitten Manson proposed 1999 and was accepted, but the love that brought them together couldn't overcome what McGowan would later describe as "lifestyle differences."

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I get asked a lot if I ever liked working in Hollywood. My answer is no. I never did. It was a means to my end. My goals. My Hollywood was a job filled with mostly sociopathic predators shooting damaged fish in a barrel. We, the beautiful ones, we were the fish. We were their targets. The truth of it is that the beautiful ones are looked at as the weak gazelles in the herd, the ones that limp under the attention they receive. It was too much for me. Look in my eyes. Ask me again if I liked it. No. But you wouldn’t either if you’d been made fun of, shunned, looked down upon, considered dirty all because someone everyone knew as King Predator and a total piece of shit, told them to do so directly or indirectly. I used to get told two things consistently in Hollywood. Once by (in my opinion) my dead souled agent, Leslie Siebert, at the creepy agency Gersh- Good old Leslie told me not to speak so much in meetings, that I was intimidating the men in the audition room with my vocabulary. I was destroyed by that comment. It was late in my ‘career’ and I was stunned. Imagine how tired I was? Years of that directly to my face. But it was so demoralizing. I went into my car and cried and tried to figure out a way out of my life. Being trapped on the other side of the screen fucking sucked for me. But here’s the thing, none of it was a shock. I always knew I’d be famous and I always knew it was not the big deal. The Culture Reset is the big deal. So, in hindsight, @lesliesiebert and #Gersh go fuck yourselves. You did me a favor. You helped get me mad enough to crack the glass ceiling of thought. I hope now you take your clients seriously. They are smarter than you. How you treat them is how they are treated is how the world is treated. Stop it. Honestly, I think agents in Hollywood are low-key human traffickers. Anyone who makes money in a negotiation of how long my right breast can be on the screen and PROFITS from it?! Sanctioned pimping if you ask me. Listen to your clients. Respect them. Don’t sell your clients out to the invisible rules of bullshit Hollywood. PS you always did suck #hollywood #memories #⚔️🦾 #Freedom #rosearmy

A post shared by Rose McGowan (@rosemcgowan) on Jul 25, 2020 at 5:04pm PDT

THE END OF THE ROMANCE

In 2001, McGowan called off the engagement to the controversial singer/ actor/ artists. Years later, McGowan discussed the breakup with BRAVO talk show host Andy Cohen. When asked why she left Manson, the actress replied:

“Think about it Andy… What was Scarface about?”

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This is is from one of my very first photo shoots. My Boston terrier Bug was my sidekick. The photographer became my boyfriend. I broke up with him after he asked me to stop waking him up with my night terrors after having been assaulted. He still hates me. Lol.

A post shared by Rose McGowan (@rosemcgowan) on Jul 21, 2020 at 8:25pm PDT

McGowan was citing the 1983 Al Pacino movie about the rise and fall of a cocaine drug lord. Cohen quickly responded to MacGowan's prompt, saying:

“Coke. He did too much blow and you were not down for it.”

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Happy 4th of July. Photo by @lindsayusichofficial

A post shared by Marilyn Manson (@marilynmanson) on Jul 4, 2020 at 3:28pm PDT

McGowan herself admits to using cocaine as a recreational drug, and in 2019 she pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor drug charge after a wallet she'd lost at Dulles International Airport was found to contain cocaine. McGowan was fined, and given a suspended sentence.

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Happy Halloween

A post shared by Marilyn Manson (@marilynmanson) on Oct 31, 2019 at 9:36pm PDT

FUN AND THE ROCK STAR

Nevertheless, McGowan revealed that she has no regrets over her three-year relationship with Manson, and describes the best part of their time together as "rock star fun." Despite their split, Manson was vocally supportive od his ex-fianceé when the Harvey Weinstein story broke.

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I need your help. Please say a protective prayer (or spell) for the brave women testifying. They will be vilified, they will be lied about, they will be shamed. The tactics employed against them will be like an old-fashioned witch burning. These women will feel the flames at their feet, the flames of societal judgement. No matter what is said at this trial, we all know the truth. They can never take that away. 🙏🤝💥

A post shared by Rose McGowan (@rosemcgowan) on Jan 22, 2020 at 5:23pm PST

ROSE MCGOWAN AND #METOO

In 1997, McGowan alleges, she was sexually assaulted by the now-convicted Miramax mega-producer, at the Sundance Film Festival. McGowan was one of the celebrities to step forward and end Weinstein's reign of terror. The former executive is now serving out a 23-year-sentence after being convicted in New York, and still faces a rape trial in Los Angeles.

Robert Rodriguez and Rose McGowan at the Weinstein Company's 2007 Golden Globes After Party in 2007 in Beverly Hills | Source: Getty Images

McGowan was then engaged to director Robert Rodriguez, but the romance ended in 2009. The actress married artist Davey Detail in 2013, but 18 months later, the couple was already living apart, and in 2016, the divorce became final, and the two agreed to the destruction of frozen embryos they had in storage.

Rose McGowanand Davey Detail at the TCM Classic Film Festival opening night premiere in 2012 | Source: Getty Images

MARILYN MANSON MOVED ON

In 2001, the year McGowan ended the engagement, Manson started dating beautiful designer and burlesque star, Dita Von Teese. The couple married in November 2005, but by December 29, 2006, the burlesque star had filed for divorce.

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All colors and sizes of the @wheelsanddollbaby #ditacardigan and Irma skirt are now back in stock! Link in my bio and story highlight 💋

A post shared by 💄Dita Von Teese (@ditavonteese) on Jul 22, 2020 at 10:39pm PDT

Von Teese would reveal that an undisclosed incident had been severe enough for her to walk out on Christmas Eve, leaving everything but her cats behind. She said:

"You have to make a choice as to whether you're going to respect yourself and say, 'I'm not going to accept this. This is not okay.'"

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Rest In Peace, dear little @realgrumpycat 💔 I was soooooo star struck the day I met her, so tiny and delicate, but she possessed unforgettable gravitas! #grumpycat

A post shared by 💄Dita Von Teese (@ditavonteese) on May 17, 2019 at 4:20am PDT

Although speculation linked the end of the marriage to Manson's subsequent relationship to actress Evan Rachel Wood, Von Teese neither confirmed nor denied it. Manson and Wood were in an on-and-off relationship for years before becoming engaged in 2010.

Marilyn Manson and actress Evan Rachel Wood at an art exhibition | Source: Getty Images

Once again, the romance fell apart, and the actress called off the engagement within months. Wood, who had referred to Manson as "the man of my dreams," said:

"I appreciate everything he taught me. I just don’t think we were right for each other."

Rose McGowan speaking at The Women's Convention in October 2017 in Detroit, Michigan | Source: Getty Images

ROSE MCGOWAN AND MARILYN MANSON TODAY

Despite their split and their differences -- in lifestyle and otherwise -- neither of the celebrities have ever bad-mouthed each other.

Manson spoke out against the wave of minor complaints of sexual misconduct, which he feels takes the focus off the major crimes which were perpetrated. Nevertheless, he is fully supportive of McGowan, and the work that she has done to bring about sexual harassment in the studio system.

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