When an act reaches the point of headlining a venue like Wembley Stadium, every name sharing the poster carries weight. Slipknot revealed the itinerary for their 2027 run, billed as the (sic)est Stadium Tour, mapping out the most ambitious stadium dates of their career. Under ordinary circumstances, securing a headlining slot in London would be an undisputed milestone for the masked nine-piece from Iowa. Instead, the celebration hit immediate turbulence when fans noticed Marilyn Manson listed as a primary touring partner.
The schedule features a single stop across the UK and Europe, set for July 3, 2027, at Wembley Stadium, where Manson will perform on a bill that also includes Lorna Shore and Hatebreed. From there, Manson and Hatebreed will travel alongside Slipknot to South America for a run of dates through September. What the promoters may have viewed as a heavy-hitting combination of nineties and noughties metal heavyweights triggered swift outrage from ticket buyers who object to Brian Warner, Manson's legal name, receiving such high-profile placement.
Thousands of responses flooded the Wembley date announcement on Instagram, turning the band's comment section into an argument over ethics and accountability. A significant block of longtime supporters declared they would sit the tour out entirely. One commenter noted that nothing could convince them to put money into Manson's pockets, while another called the decision a profound disappointment and confirmed they would no longer attend. A survivor pointed out that the booking felt hopelessly out of touch, and another dryly remarked that putting him on the bill was certainly a choice. A handful of listeners pushed back in defense of the package, pointing to the natural overlap between both fanbases and arguing he fit the bill musically, but critical reactions dominated the conversation.
The two acts share history, having mounted a co-headlining package across North America back in 2016 alongside Of Mice & Men. The cultural ground beneath them has shifted substantially since that trek, owing to an accumulation of domestic, physical, and sexual abuse allegations leveled against Warner by multiple women.
Public scrutiny escalated sharply in 2021 when Warner's former partner, actor Evan Rachel Wood, publicly accused him of grooming, manipulation, and physical violence. She detailed those claims further in the 2022 documentary Phoenix Rising. Warner has denied the allegations throughout, labeling them horrible distortions of reality and maintaining that his intimate relationships were entirely consensual. He launched a defamation lawsuit targeting Wood and artist Illma Gore, though he abandoned the litigation in November 2024 and agreed to pay Wood nearly $327,000, roughly £244,000, to cover her legal expenses.
Other courtroom battles have kept Warner in the news. Game Of Thrones actor Esmé Bianco filed a civil suit against him alleging human trafficking, sexual assault, and physical abuse. Warner denied the claims, and the matter concluded in 2023 through an out-of-court settlement. In January 2025, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman closed a four-year law enforcement investigation into sexual assault and domestic violence accusations involving Warner without pursuing criminal charges. Prosecutors explained that the statute of limitations had run out on the domestic abuse claims, while the sexual assault allegations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Civil litigation against Warner continues regardless. Ashley Walters, who worked as his assistant in 2010 and 2011, filed suit in 2021 citing sexual assault, battery, and harassment during her employment. Her complaint was dismissed on time-limit grounds in December 2025, but California's Assembly Bill 250 created an extended filing window for adult survivors, enabling her case to be revived in January. Warner maintains his innocence against her claims, as he has with all previous public accusations.
For Corey Taylor and the rest of Slipknot, the backlash complicates what should have been an untroubled victory lap. Playing rooms the size of Wembley represents the absolute peak of touring scale for modern metal, yet the band now finds their biggest career achievement competing with the controversy attached to their opening act.
