Marilyn Manson has spoken out regarding the ongoing sexual assault and harassment allegations swirling around the entertainment industry.
Asked about allegations made by his ex-fiancée, actress Rose McGowan, against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, Manson told UK's Channel 4 News: "I’m not surprised by it, but I didn’t really know much about it when I was with her.”
He added: "There’s serious allegations, and they’re always allegations of course, but when someone starts complaining about something that happened that seems a little bit not as serious as really sexual assault, I think that’s insulting to people that have been sexually assaulted.
“It pisses me off that when someone says, ‘Someone gave me an inappropriate gift’ or something. That’s not the same as being harmed.”
Back in October, Manson had to part ways with his longtime bassist Twiggy Ramirez after rape allegations were made against Ramirez by an ex.
“I don’t want to see it turn Hollywood into something that takes away from films being made – that’s not to disrespect the people making the allegations," said Manson. "If you have something to say you should say it to the police and not to the press and handle it that way first and foremost, and that’s what I would do.
“I think the world needs to balance itself out with what’s the proper way of dealing with this type of situation."
Referring to McGowan, the "Beautiful People" rocker said: “I don’t disagree with how she’s handling it… I just disagree with the entire snowball effect that’s happened that could ruin a lot of people’s lives that don’t need to be ruined.”
Manson is currently on his Heaven Upside Down tour, which stops in Toronto on Feb. 11.
Watch the full interview below: