Slipknot’s biggest UK headline show should have been a straightforward celebration. Instead, the announcement of Marilyn Manson as one of the support acts for Wembley Stadium has become a story of its own.
The band will bring their (sic)est Stadium Tour to Wembley Stadium on 3 July 2027, their only UK and European performance on the run. Manson is scheduled to appear alongside Lorna Shore and Hatebreed.
But following the announcement, some Slipknot fans have publicly criticised the decision to include Manson on the bill, with several saying they will not buy tickets because of past allegations made against the singer.
Why Slipknot’s Marilyn Manson support booking drew criticism
Marilyn Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, has faced allegations of sexual and other abuse from multiple women over recent years. Warner has consistently denied allegations of wrongdoing.
The legal history surrounding those allegations is complicated and matters when discussing the controversy accurately. In January 2025, prosecutors in Los Angeles said they would not bring criminal charges following a years-long investigation, citing the statute of limitations in relation to domestic violence allegations and saying they could not prove sexual assault charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Separately, a civil lawsuit brought by Warner’s former assistant Ashley Walters remains active. Her case was revived by a Los Angeles judge in January 2026 under a new California law allowing certain older sexual-assault claims to proceed, and in June a judge rejected another attempt by Warner’s lawyers to have the case dismissed or narrowed. Warner denies Walters’ allegations.
It is against that background that the Wembley announcement has landed.
Some Slipknot fans say they will stay away
Reaction underneath social-media posts announcing the tour has been divided. BBC Newsbeat and NME have both reported comments from fans saying Manson’s inclusion means they will not attend, while others have defended the choice and pointed to the substantial overlap between the artists’ audiences.
That distinction is important. This is not a unanimous revolt by Slipknot’s fanbase, nor does online criticism necessarily tell us how the Wembley show will ultimately sell. What is clear is that Manson’s presence has changed the conversation around what would otherwise have been one of the biggest announcements of Slipknot’s career.
For another perspective on the future of a long-running heavy band, read Enter Shikari’s decision to go dormant after 2027.
A huge moment for Slipknot becomes a more complicated one
The scale of the tour should not be overlooked. Wembley is the opening date of a worldwide stadium run and is being billed as Slipknot’s biggest ever UK headline show. The tour then moves through North America before reaching South America in September.
Manson is not scheduled as support across the entire tour. Bring Me The Horizon are among the major guests appearing on North American dates, while a rotating cast also includes Lamb of God, Motionless In White, Acid Bath, Polyphia, Kublai Khan TX, Loathe and Vended.
For Wembley, however, Manson is part of the advertised bill — and that means the debate is unlikely to disappear immediately.
The argument is now part of the event
There are two separate things happening here. Slipknot are entering stadium territory on an unprecedented scale, while some of their audience are questioning one of the people the band has chosen to share that stage with.
It is possible to report both without pretending that social-media reaction represents every fan, and without treating unresolved allegations as established fact.
Whether the criticism has any measurable effect on ticket sales remains to be seen. What can already be said is that the choice of support act has ensured the road to Wembley will involve more than anticipation for Slipknot’s biggest UK show.
Slipknot’s (sic)est Stadium Tour reaches Wembley Stadium, London, on 3 July 2027. General sale begins on 2 October 2026.
