Ryan Adams Accused

Several women are accusing singer-songwriter Ryan Adams of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct, including his ex-wife, actress and singer Mandy Moore, and a woman who says she was underage when Adams exposed himself to her during a video chat.

Several of the more than a dozen people who spoke to The New York Times said Adams would promise career opportunities, but if they rejected his advances, he would become emotionally and verbally abusive. Moore said that “music was a point of control for him,” and he would often promise to bring her into the studio but then replace her with another artist. “He would always tell me, ‘You’re not a real musician, because you don’t play an instrument,’” she said.

One woman, now 20, told the Times she started talking with Adams online in 2013. She plays bass, and it wasn’t long before their chats about music and a career turned into phone sex. The Times reviewed 3,217 text messages between Adams and the woman, who is identified by her middle name, Ava. The texts show that Adams repeatedly asked Ava about her age, and even though she said at times she was 18 or older, he still said in 2014 that he would “get in trouble if someone knew we talked like this.” She also said she once agreed to video chat with him, and once they were connected, she saw that he was naked.

Adams’ lawyer said his client “unequivocally denies that he ever engaged in appropriate online sexual communications with someone he knew was underage.” On Twitter, Adams said he’s “not a perfect man,” but the “picture that this article paints is upsettingly inaccurate.”

“Some of its details are misrepresented; some are exaggerated; some are outright false. I would never have inappropriate interactions with someone I thought was underage. Period,” he added.

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Adams concluded: “As someone who has always tried to spread joy through my music and my life, hearing that some people believe I caused them pain saddens me greatly. I am resolved to work to be the best man I can be. And I wish everyone compassion, understanding and healing.”

The release of Adams’ upcoming album Big Colors, the first of three albums he planned to drop in 2019, has been canceled. Variety reports that retailers have been notified that the album will no longer be released and refunds are being offered for money spent on advance orders. Pax-Am, the label started by Ryan, has removed pages for pre-orders from its website.

Mandy Moore sent a message of support to women who have endured trauma after detailing the psychological abuse she says she experienced while married to Adams.

“Speaking your truth can be painful and triggering but it’s always worth it,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “My heart is with all women who have suffered any sort of trauma or abuse. You are seen and heard. #sisterhoodforever.”

The This is Us star and Adams wed in 2009 and divorced in 2016. She is now married to singer Taylor Goldsmith.