Dita Von Teese on remaining friends with Marilyn Manson: 'He encouraged all of my eccentricities'

'I can speak fondly about him now,' says Von Teese

(Getty Images)

There is no better fodder for gossip sites then break-ups, separations and disputes. Dita Von Teese’s divorce from Marilyn Manson in 2007 was no exception.

What they may find much less satisfying is stories of divorced partners who have emerged the other side and can speak affectionately of their time together.

Manson and Von Teese met in 2001, became acquainted with each other backstage at one of his gigs over a bottle of absinthe, collaborated on various projects together and married in a lavish ceremony captured by Vogue a year before their split. Von Teese, a burlesque performer and designer, appeared in a number of the singer's videos and on his tracks. Manson's music and relationships were rarely out of the tabloids and as a couple, they were inevitably heavily scrutinised.

Appearing on Khloe Kardashian’s chat show, Kocktails With Khloe, Von Teese spoke positively of their relationship, praising Manson for supporting her career and encouraging her “eccentricities” during their seven years as partners.

“He was super encouraging," she said. "There was a lot of cross-over in our careers and he would have that creativeness… he encouraged all of my eccentricities. He did a whole album that was burlesque themed and we made music videos together. I can speak fondly about him now. If you had asked me four years ago I would have shut it down. We’re friends now and it’s fine.”

Von Teese, whose real name is Heather Sweet, said the coverage and the weight of the ceremony made her go through with it, despite her doubts.

“I feel like getting married was sort of like the kiss of death for us because it was sort of like the nail in the coffin. I felt obliged to go through with the ceremony in a way because so much was riding on it, like Vogue was photographing it, and it was in this castle,” she explained. “I just thought, 'Oh well.'”