Actress Evan Rachel Wood has spoken publicly in the past about being in a relationship with an abuser. And now, she's gotten specific—identifying him by name and calling him out for "grooming" her to not realize the emotional and sexual abuse that characterized their relationship.
"The name of my abuser is Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson," she wrote in a powerful Instagram post on February 1. "He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years. 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."
Wood was just 18 when she met Manson, then 36, she told Rolling Stone. They later dated and became engaged in 2010, splitting less than a year later. The couple briefly broke up before their engagement, with Manson telling SPIN in 2009 that he had "fantasies every day about smashing her skull in with a sledgehammer."
RELATED: Evan Rachel Wood Named Marilyn Manson as the Abuser Who Gaslit Her for Years—Here's What That Means
Manson denied the allegations on Instagram, writing, "Obviously, my art and my life have long been magnets for controversy, but these recent claims about me are 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."
Wood's post raised a lot of questions about "grooming" or "sexual grooming." What does this mean, and why do people fall victim to someone who grooms them for a sexually and/or emotionally abusive relationship? Here's what you need to know about grooming in the context of abuse.
RELATED: Narcissistic Abuse Is the Scary New Kind of Emotional Abuse You Need to Know About
What is grooming, exactly?
Grooming is a series of manipulative behaviors that the abuser uses to gain access to a potential victim, coerce them to agree to the abuse, and reduce the risk of being caught, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Victims are often children, but vulnerable adults can also be targets, Cheryl Friedman, a licensed clinical social worker at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City who works with survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, tells Health.
Grooming can happen in person or online, and RAINN says it typically follows this pattern: First, an abuser will select possible victims based on their perceived vulnerability. They'll attempt to physically or emotionally separate a victim from people who protect them, and gain the victim's trust by giving them gifts and attention. They'll also share "secrets" and train them to keep the relationship secret. All the while, the abuser will try to make their behavior seem natural.
What-Is-Sexual-Grooming-GettyImages-165927803
What does grooming look like?
There are many ways grooming can manifest, including as emotional, mental, and/or physical abuse. Here are some ways it typically plays out:
Testing boundaries in non-sexual situations. This could mean getting the victim another alcoholic drink when they said no, or joining them at a social event when they had said not to join them, and then flattering them so they don't notice the violation of their boundaries, Holly Rosen, LMSW, director of MSU Safe Place, a shelter for people and who are in an emotionally, physically or sexually abusive relationship, tells Health. "These set up a pattern of not listening or respecting when people say no, but the behaviors seem 'innocent' if the targeted victims are not educated on grooming tactics," she says.
Mixing compliments with subtle insults. This can include comments like, "Your hair looks so good—much better than it usually does."
Trying to assert power. An abuser might use intellectual or logical strategies to convince the victim that they are smarter, Rosen says. Think giving them the silent treatment, leaving quickly, threatening that the relationship is over, and slamming doors when the victim does not agree with them.
Sexual humiliation. "There is often a cycle of sexual humiliation," Durvasula says. "The perpetrator manipulates and coerces sexual behavior, and then humiliates the victim on this basis, resulting in greater dependency." The victim may be forced into more uncomfortable and dangerous sexual situations, and the abuser may take photos or videos to threaten the victim with later.
Physical intimidation. Certain tactics may be used before the situation escalates to severe physical abuse, Rosen says. Those can include throwing objects (but not at anyone), pretending to hit through gestures and saying "just kidding," and holding the victim down on a bed and laughing.
Gaslighting. "The victim's reality is denied on a regular basis, and this results in more and more confusion for them, and greater reliance on the perpetrator," Durvasula says. The victim can be confused about how the person they thought loved them could act this way, and they may even try to justify the abuser's behavior, she says.
"Mental and physical abuse are often intertwined—using threats, intimidation, and other tactics, prior to, and simultaneously to later using violence," Rosen says.
RELATED: How to Enjoy Sex Again if You've Experienced Sexual Assault
What are the harmful effects of grooming?
Grooming opens up a person for physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, Durvasula says. It can also lead to confusion. "Because grooming is a gradual process, the confusion between trust, dependence, and abuse means that victims are deeply confused and are not able to understand what is happening to them," she adds.
Loss of self-esteem, along with losing the ability to feel comfortable making decisions, are common results, Friedman says. There's also a risk of developing mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress syndrome, Durvasula adds.
Victims of grooming often struggle in future relationships. "They frequently have difficulty trusting themselves to make healthy decisions in relationships, and they have difficulty trusting others not to hurt them," Galligher says. "Some may have difficulty discerning unhealthy dynamics in future relationships because they don't rise to the level of abuse they experienced before. Others may trend toward eschewing future relationships at all, instead isolating themselves in an effort to protect from danger."
Signs you’re being groomed
Durvasula says this is one major red flag: The relationship feels like it's moving too fast, and you become isolated from friends and family. Meanwhile, your partner is telling you negative things about your loved ones to keep you separated.
More danger signs include being offered financial support and a place to live very quickly, and if the abuser insists on driving you places and waiting for you. You feel that they're "taking care of you," but then your partner rages when you try to assert independence, like seeing friends or working late. They question your social media use, threaten to leave the relationship when you try to be independent, and you feel like you're walking on eggshells, worrying that what you say, do, or wear will set them off.
Rosen recommends taking a larger view of your relationships to understand what's happening. "Try to look at ways you are treated as a pattern, not as separate isolated incidents," she says.
RELATED: How to Help a Friend in an Abusive Relationship
What to do if you’re being groomed
Durvasula suggests finding someone who can give you a reality check on what is happening. "Do not use shared devices or devices provided by or connected to a shared network with the partner," she advises. (The concern: Your partner could figure out that you're trying to seek help and lash out.) This person could be a friend or family member. But if you don't feel comfortable talking to loved ones, you can get support through organizations like Safe Horizon or the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which offer 24/7 access to help.
Try to have some independent money, so you feel comfortable getting out, Durvasula advises. If you feel you're in an emergency situation or you don't know where to turn and you need help ASAP, go to your local ER, recommends Friedman. "It's the safest place to go," she says. "There's help there."
Experts stress that grooming is not the victim's fault. "Abusers are good at finding vulnerabilities and exploiting them," Rosen says. And it happens more than most people realize. "Victims need to know that they're not alone—that's a very big fear," Friedman says. "There are unfortunately many people in your situation. But help is out there."
To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter