In October 2021, after singer Marilyn Manson was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit, a photograph supposedly showing that the musician had seemingly "aged poorly" was circulated on social media:
This is not a genuine photograph of Manson. This is a digitally altered image that was seemingly created by Reddit user u/Jimmy_Fallen. (Note the watermark on the left side of the image).
This fake photo was created from a genuine photograph of Manson that was taken at a gala event in California in January 2020. The original photograph is available here via Alamy. Here's a side-by-side comparison of the fake image (left) and the original photo (right):
This photograph went viral as Manson faced allegations of sexual assault from multiple women, including actress Evan Rachel Wood. An anonymous woman has also filed a lawsuit accusing the musician of rape and abuse. Spin reported:
In the amended complaint viewed by SPIN, Doe details Manson’s [real name Brian Hugh Warner] alleged sexual assault and abuse, claiming that Manson told her that he would “bash her head in” if she reported him to the police. Doe also outlines why her complaint should qualify for the delayed discovery within the statute of limitations, including how Mason reportedly raped and abused her. She claims Manson would force her “to have sex with him, and to be on top of him during sex. She would pray for Warner to pass out during intercourse. When this happened, Plaintiff would try to slip away and get some sleep, but the moment she moved, Warner would wake up and demand to resume the sexual activity.”
Manson has since denied the allegations, saying that his "intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners."