Late Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington’s ex-wife, Samantha Bennington, recently faced backlash after sharing an old photo featuring Marilyn Manson and Chester Bennington on Instagram.
The photo, taken during Marilyn Manson’s birthday, showed Samantha attending the event with Chester and her transgender daughter, Violet. After a fan criticized her for associating with Manson due to his controversial reputation, Samantha responded defensively to the comments.
“This night.. Brian’s bday! Great times just got these photos,” Samantha Bennington initially wrote.
Following her post, a music fan commented, criticizing her decision to bring her family around Manson.
“Marilyn Manson is a rap*st,” the fan commented. “You’re bringing your family around a predator who groomed and raped multiple women and you’re calling me a sicko? Please, go to therapy because I cannot imagine bringing my family around a monster like him!”
Samantha Bennington quickly fired back at the criticism, explaining that taking a photo with someone in the industry does not mean she is involved in or aware of their personal actions.
“The fact that we just meet people in the industry and are at the same place and take a photo doesn’t mean we know everything, doesn’t mean we’re involved in everything, and means that you’re just a total douche bag,” Samantha Bennington responded. “That’s what this means, you’re nasty little f*cking sh*t, I should block you. You’re just a f*cktard fan that doesn’t know Jack sh*t. Now, whatever that guy did, I have no clue. I’m posting a picture because we had somebody pass away and now you can go f*ck yourself.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing tension surrounding public figures associated with controversial artists in the music industry. That exchange sits against a broader history of controversy surrounding Marilyn Manson and Chester Bennington’s public ties to him.
Samantha and Chester were married from 1996 to 2005, and after his death she called him one of her “best friends” since the age of 19. She also wrote, “I pray from my soul that he is at peace and no longer suffering,” and said she was honored to have completed their “soul contracts together.”
Chester died by suicide in July 2017, and his wife at the time, Talinda Bennington, said, “One week ago, I lost my soulmate and my children lost their hero — their daddy.” She added that she would “raise our babies with every ounce of love I have left.”
Samantha said after his death that “my son & I both, along with the rest of our families are feeling” the loss, referring to their son Draven. The report also notes that Samantha and Chester shared a son, while the Instagram post in question included their daughter Violet.
Samantha later criticized the handling of Chester’s funeral, saying the service was a “disgusting delusional display” and arguing that it reduced his life to his music career alone.
