Evan Rachel Wood, Marilyn Manson and why her antisemitism allegations matter

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Evan Rachel Wood shares many abhorrent abuse allegations – including rape – against former beau Marilyn Manson in her new two-part documentary "Phoenix Rising," airing on HBO this week. Some of these allegations directly correlate to her Jewish ancestry, a revelation that should not be overlooked.

In "Phoenix Rising: Part I: Don't Fall," Wood says Manson has an affinity for Adolf Hitler, stating he filled paintings with swastikas and Nazi imagery. He made fun of Wood for being born Jewish, she says, and at one point during their relationship, she recalls he wrote "kill all the Jews" on their bedroom wall.

The 34-year-old adds in the second part of the documentary that Manson hit her with a swastika-adorned Nazi whip.

A direct psychological link between antisemitism and violence has not been definitively established, but racism, antisemitism and misogyny, while different, are all cut from the same hateful cloth. The overlap between these hateful views shouldn't be ignored, experts say.

"​Embracing any iteration of hate removes a barrier to violence," says Jessica Reaves, director of editorial and content strategy for the Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

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'Exploiting a legacy of historical violence'

It's typical "for people who abuse their intimate partners to use their partner's marginalized identities to enact, exacerbate or intensify the control and violence against them," says Madelaine Adelman, professor of justice and social inquiry at Arizona State University.

As such, Wood's claims about Manson's views warrant attention.

"It can be difficult to disentangle what Manson's beliefs may be from his consistent efforts to be provocative, but in this case what he actually believes or doesn't may be immaterial," says Hannah Johnson, professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh. "What Wood describes is the behavior of someone who is consciously exploiting a legacy of historical violence in order to justify victimizing someone in the present."

Manson has since sued Wood in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing defamation, emotional distress and "impersonation over the internet." He also sued her friend, artist Illma Gore.

Filmmakers contacted Manson but he did not respond to specific allegations. Instead, the film includes a statement from Manson's lawyers, saying the musician "vehemently denies any and all claims of sexual assault or abuse of anyone." 

Manson's lawyer Howard King also told Paste BN: "As we detailed in our lawsuit, nothing that Evan Rachel Wood, Illma Gore or their hand-picked co-conspirators have said on this matter can be trusted." 

Hate breeds more hate – and can lead to violence

Hateful views, such as racist or misogynistic beliefs, serve as a breeding ground for all kinds of volatile, vile behavior.

"They are all based on unwarranted and stereotypical ideas about the superiority of one group and the inferiority of another," says Lisa Fontes, senior lecturer in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and author of "Interviewing Clients Across Cultures."

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Fontes adds: "Someone who holds a view of themselves and their group as superior and another person and their group as inferior might feel they have the right to control and abuse that other person."

Much like other forms of hate, not all antisemitic people commit acts of violence. "Antisemitism can range from intermittent bias all the way to hatred and hostility," says psychotherapist Cecille Ahrens. Such hate can lead to violence.

"Antisemitism and other forms of bigotry have caused enormous human suffering throughout history," says Vanessa Hintz, senior director of equity, diversity and inclusion engagement and outreach at the American Psychological Association. "Hate crimes motivated by antisemitism can be traumatic and lead to profound psychological and physical consequences for victims of aggression."

Not to mention that "there are near-daily reports of Jewish people being physically assaulted on public streets or subjected to antisemitic slurs, synagogues vandalized, and religious symbols desecrated," Hintz says.

Several psychological theories exist for why someone might become violent. You may be dealing with someone who is sociopathic or psychopathic. Studies indicate structural brain differences exist between those with anti-social personality disorders and others.

Another theory: Humans are wired to detect and ward off threats, whether that threat is real or not. Either way we pick fight, flight or freeze mode.

But "when we are in fight or flight mode, we don’t have the best judgment," Ahrens says. "We lose objectivity and our ‘empathy system’ becomes compromised. All we are concerned about is being right and being 'safe' and preserving our self-interest."

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What to do if you face antisemitism

Talk to someone. "Talking to trusted friends and family, becoming more informed, joining a supportive circle or group, volunteering, advocacy and community service can all be protective factors against internalizing these untrue messages and hurtful/harmful experiences," Ahrens says. Therapy might also be an option.

Know it's OK to feel mad. "Anger and outrage are appropriate responses in the face of bigotry and injustice," Hintz says. "Thus, exploring pain can help to identify and resolve problems."

Tell law enforcement. "If you recognize escalation in antisemitic views and/or behaviors, report the issue to law enforcement," Ahrens says.

Also: "If you're not in immediate danger, reach out to ADL," Reaves says. "We track antisemitic incidents, and we encourage people to reach out with information so that we can better understand the threat facing communities.​​"

Engage your local community. "Communities can address hate crimes through enforcing hate crimes laws where they exist, implementing hate crimes legislation in states lacking such laws, and following law-enforcement and community guidelines," Hintz says.

Remember, too, that antisemitic thinking doesn't have to be permanent. "The path to abuse and violence is complex," Ahrens says. "Antisemitic views are learned beliefs, therefore they can be unlearned."