Who Is Perez Hilton, The Celebrity Gossip Blogger Featured In 'Phoenix Rising'?

Actor Evan Rachel Wood reflects on her relationship with Marilyn Manson in the two-part HBO documentary “Phoenix Rising,” a relationship that she alleges was abusive, something Manson denies.  In the documentary, she also examines how she was viewed in the media at the time of her relationship with Manson. 

And that portrayal of her — which she characterizes as a perceived drop from A-list actor to devalued woman — while dating the “Antichrist Superstar” singer, includes the commentary of Perez Hilton. 

The documentary includes headlines about Wood and Manson’s relationship, including one from Hilton, who would call Wood “Evan Rachel Whore” back in the aughts. In the included headline, he stated, “Evan Rachel Whore and Marilyn Manson: ‘On’ Again!” She had the word “HO” written over her head.

Wood met Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, when she was 18 and he was in his late 30s. In 2018, Wood, now 34, went public in front of Congress with allegations of sexual abuse, but did not name Manson at the time.  Three other women have subsequently accused Manson of abuse in ongoing civil lawsuits.  Manson has maintained that all these relationships were consensual.

Over the past few years, Wood has become an activist, speaking out against domestic violence issues, but did not publicly accuse Manson until 2021. She testified in 2018 before a House Judiciary subcommittee about her experiences as a rape and domestic violence survivor in an effort to get the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act passed nationwide. 

Manson has vehemently denied all allegations, which he has called "horrible distortions of reality."

"My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how — and why — others are now choosing to misrepresent the past, that is the truth," Manson said.

Evan Rachel Wood alleges that ex Marilyn Manson subjected her to years of abuse. Photo: Getty Images

Manson filed a civil lawsuit against Wood and Ashley Gore (also known as Illma Gore) on March 2, accusing them of conspiring to cast him as a rapist and abuser, characterizations the complaint describes as “malicious falsehoods.”  Gore is identified in the complaint as Wood’s on-again, off-again romantic partner.  The complaint further alleges that Wood and Gore secretly recruited and pressured other prospective accusers “to emerge simultaneously with allegations of rape against” Manson.  Wood responded to the complaint yesterday during an appearance on The View, saying she is “very confident that I have the truth on my side and that and that the truth will come out.”

Hilton is a blogger and entertainment commenter who rose to fame in the early aughts with his snarky gossip blog, which is still active. His harsh treatment of celebrities, particularly women, including Britney Spears and others, has been reexamined lately. 

Recent documentaries about Spears and the conservatorship that she has now broke free of have criticized how Hilton treated Britney on his blog. Hilton, whose legal name is Mario Lavandeira Jr., had  scrawled "I miss rehab" and "loser" on the pop star’s face in 2007, as she was struggling, Newsweek reported last year.

During an 2021 interview with SkyNews, Hilton says he takes "full accountability" for the often mean-spirited blog posts.

“I didn't lead with empathy and compassion," he said. "I absolutely apologize and carry deep shame and regret."

Britney’s conservatorship was dissolved in November after the “Overprotected” star expressed that she had no control over her finances, day-to-day life and even her decisions to use birth control or not.

Perez has changed his tune recently and appears more empathetic about the women he used to trash on his blog. 

“I believe her,” he recently told the New York Post regarding Wood’s allegations against Manson.