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

#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."

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?”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.'"

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.