Metal Anarchy

British MP Siân Berry is seeking to cancel Marilyn Manson’s October 29 show at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, UK due to the past sexual assault allegations against him. This news comes shortly after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council leader Millie Earl tried to cancel the shock rocker‘s October 31 show at Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, UK for similar reasons.

According to The Argus, Berry said the following in a letter that was sent to the local council:

“Many survivors in Brighton and Hove, and organisations supporting them, will have very serious concerns about this booking and its impact on other people visiting the city centre, local residents and the wider community.

Freedom of expression is an important principle that should be defended, including in relation to artists, but there is an obvious risk to community cohesion and the council has separate equalities obligations to foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and people who do not share them.

The council has a responsibility to take action where there are risks of discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

The level and nature of the accusations against Warner are concerning enough alone, but so too is the message sent out by providing a platform for this individual, at our city’s biggest publicly owned venue, and what this will mean to survivors.”

The letter was signed by Berry, the Survivors’ Network, Reclaim The Night Brighton & Hove, The Queery Co-Op, and the University of Sussex Students’ Union.