Content Warning: This article discusses sexual assault. If you or someone you know are affected by the following story, you are not alone. To speak to someone, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
US author Bret Easton Ellis has generated some controversy by claiming he is “haunted” by how Ryan Adams was “thrown under the truck” following allegations of sexual and emotional abuse.
Back in mid-February, a report initially published in The New York Times, saw a number of women accuse Ryan Adams of sexual and emotional abuse, with statements included from the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Courtney Jaye, and Adams’ ex-wife Mandy Moore.
Likewise, the report also made mention of accusations from a 14-year-old girl who claimed that Adams exposed himself to her.
Since then, a number of other individuals have come forward to comment on these allegations, including tour manager Thomas O’Keefe, and Adams’ guitarist Todd Wisenbaker.
Additionally, Adams has also had his music pulled from US radio, and seen his upcoming albums shelved for the foreseeable future.
However, in the eyes of author Bret Easton Ellis, Ryan Adams has effectively been “thrown under the truck” and unfairly treated after these allegations came to light.
Check out Bret Easton Ellis’ Ryan Adams comments on the ‘Inside Politics’ podcast:
Speaking to The Irish Times’ ‘Inside Politics’ podcast recently, the American Psycho author stated his belief that Ryan Adams’ story belongs in “the National Enquirer” instead of being associated with the #MeToo campaign.
“I just worry sometimes that the best intentions can get weaponised and you get a lot of people who are thrown under the truck who I don’t know if they really deserve to be there,” Ellis explained.
“I am haunted by the way the indie musician Ryan Adams was portrayed in a New York Times piece that put him under the #MeToo banner because he liked to flirt with girls and promise them record contracts or they could play on his records if they flirted with him.”
“His wife Mandy Moore complained that, ‘Ryan was so controlling that I couldn’t make a record for six years.’ That was kind of about it,” he continued.
“Yeah, there was some girl he had been sexting with who actually wasn’t 16. She might have been 14, she lied. That was there. But the FBI said they didn’t even know if that was a crime concerning this particular case.”
While Adams’ attorney, Andrew B. Brettler, stated that the artist, “unequivocally denies that he ever engaged in inappropriate online sexual communications with someone he knew was underage,” it was later revealed that FBI agents from the Crimes Against Children Squad had opened an investigation into the matter.
After the Times article was published, Adams took to Twitter to apologise to “anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally,” adding that “I would never have inappropriate interactions with someone I thought was underage.”
Ryan Adams has had very little interaction with the public following these allegations, and it remains to be seen when or if his planned release of three albums in 2019 will take place.
