Guardian journalist says shock-rocker Marilyn Manson 'flicked me in the testicles' during interview

Marilyn Manson flicked Guardian journalist Alexis Petridis in the testicles during an interview. Photo / Getty

Marilyn Manson is known for his outlandish antics - but an incident during a recent interview might be the weirdest yet.

The shock-rocker reportedly "flicked" a Guardian journalist in the testicles during an interview while promoting his new album.

In the interview with Guardian journalist Alexis Petridis, the writer describes the incident: "It is while discussing the difference between his stage persona and his day-to-day life that Marilyn Manson leans over and flicks me in the testicles."

"This comes as quite a surprise: I have encountered a lot of unusual things as a journalist, but have thus far managed to get by without an interviewee touching my genitals."

According to Petridis, Manson's surprise flick appeared to be part of his answer to a question on whether he feels consumed by the musical persona he created 25 years ago, with Manson adding, "That's the difference!" immediately after.

Petridis continues: "For one thing, I am distracted by my sore testicles, and, for another, I wasn't really following his line of argument at the time. First, he took my notepad, wrote 'person' on it and added an 'a' at the end. 'I'm this and I'm this,' he said. 'A person and a persona. But I can't really divide the two. There's a difference on the stage; people I don't know I just seduce, in a lot of ways. You go offstage and people... even me and you now, talking...'

"His voice trailed off and, while I was trying to work out whether he had just said that he did inhabit a different persona on stage he flicked me in the testicles."

Marilyn Manson performing in Auckland in October 2007. Photo / NZPA, Wayne Drought

Petridis later tweeted a link to the article, writing: "I met the great Marilyn Manson. We talked, drank, he flicked me in the testicles and suggested we wrestle".

Manson, known for being a provocative figure, also said the 1999 Columbine High School massacre "destroyed my entire career at the time".

The shooters, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, were said to have been fans of Manson's music, and some blamed the rocker for having a violent influence on them.

"If [the Columbine killers] had just bought my records, they would be better off ... But, honestly, the Columbine era destroyed my entire career at the time," said Manson.

Manson's 10th studio album Heaven Upside Down is due on October 6.