Kanye West — or “Ye,” as he’s going by now — is continuing with his semi-regular Sunday Services, in which he leads fans and a choir in a pop-up gospel worship situation. These events have featured some pretty surprising celebrity guests, but the Halloween edition took the cake, as Ye was joined by Justin Bieber and honorary priest of the Church of Satan Marilyn Manson.
Bieber is a veteran of these Sunday Service events, so no surprise there. But though Manson did appear at one of Ye’s listening parties ahead of his latest album release, Donda, the shock rock legend hasn’t done a Sunday Service event before. Manson is currently facing multiple sexual assault lawsuits.
Earlier this year, Manson’s former girlfriend actor Evan Rachel Wood came forward with other women to allege years of physical, sexual and psychological abuse at Manson’s hands. “He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years.” Wood said in a statement in February. “I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission. I am done living in fear of retaliation, slander, or blackmail. I am here to expose this dangerous man and call out the many industries that have enabled him, before he ruins any more lives. I stand with the many victims who will no longer be silent.”
Manson has denied the claims.
The Sunday Service event was broadcast through Triller and Fite TV, and you could stream the whole thing for $10.
— 📂 (@ruinedbyjb) October 31, 2021
In the 90s, Manson’s music was a source of controversy for his gleefully provocative public persona, which was (and still is) a millennial spin on the Aleister Crowley aesthetic of older acts like Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne. At the time, attempts to critique his embrace of sex and violence were often written off as prudishness, and Manson became a star. He’s recently acted on shows like American Gods, Salem and Sons of Anarchy.
