Ryan Adams has been accused of sexual and emotional abuse from numerous women, in a revealing report published by the New York Times.
 
The expose, published earlier today has compiled interviews with multiple women. All accusing Adams of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct. The report has detailed “a pattern of manipulative behaviour in which Adams dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex.” It features statements from musicians Phoebe Bridgers, Courtney Jaye and Adams’ ex-wife Mandy Moore.
 
The article has also alleged Adams of exposing himself to an underage girl named Ava. Ava has claimed that Adams began talking to her at 14 and the nature of their conversations became sexual. The article notes that at times Ava lied about her age, yet Adams persisted. “I would get in trouble if someone knew we talked like this,” Adams messaged her on November 2014.  “If people knew they would say I was like R Kelley lol.” 
 
Adams’ attorney Andrew B. Brettler has stated, “Mr. Adams unequivocally denies that he ever engaged in inappropriate online sexual communications with someone he knew was underage.” Brettler has denied the “extremely serious and outlandish accusations” detailed in the report. Referring to the allegations as “grousing by disgruntled individuals.” 
 
Phoebe Bridgers, who is currently touring Australia, has stated that Ryan Adams approached her in 2014, when she was 20 years old. Bridgers has shared that Adams reached out, looking to help her pursue her music career. Their professional relationship soon developed into a romantic one. Bridgers alleges that weeks into their romantic relationship, Adams turned emotionally abusive. The report outlines that Adams began “barraging her with texts, insisting that she prove her whereabouts, or leave social situations to have phone sex, and threatening suicide if she didn’t reply immediately.”
 
Bridgers has detailed an incident that took place in 2017, that saw Adams offer her the opening slot on a few dates of his tour. Bridgers has detailed that on “the first day, he asked me to bring him something in his hotel room. I came upstairs and he was completely nude.”

Adams’ ex-wife, singer-songwriter and actress Mandy Moore has accused Adams as being “psychologically abusive.”  “He would always tell me, ‘You’re not a real musician, because you don’t play an instrument,’” she shared with the Times. “His controlling behaviour essentially did block my ability to make new connections in the industry during a very pivotal and potentially lucrative time — my entire mid-to-late 20s.”

In a since-deleted tweet, Adams tweeted the New York Times,  “Happy Vanetines day @nytimes. I know you got lawyers But do you have the truth on your side. No. I do. And you have run out of friends. My folks are NOT your friends. Run your smear piece. But the leagal eagles see you. Rats. I’m fucking taking you down. Let’s learn I bait.”

ryan-adams

Read the full report here.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine