Paul Thomas/Getty Images for Jaguar Land RoverRyan Adams is denying accusations of sexual misconduct and emotionally abusive and controlling behavior detailed in a story published Wednesday in The New York Times.
The story accuses the 44-year-old Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer of, among other things, a “pattern of manipulative behavior” of using the promise of fame and career opportunities to keep younger female artists under his control while simultaneously pursuing sexual relationships with them.
In one instance, Adams is said to have exposed himself during video phone sex calls to a girl that he allegedly knew was underage, exchanging over 3,000 text text messages in which he joked about her age, at one point writing, “If people knew they would say I was like R Kelley lol,” referring to the R&B singer who’s been accused of having sex with underage women.
The New York Times story also claims Adams would retaliate against the women if they rebuffed his advances, becoming “domineering and vengeful, jerking away his offers of support when spurned, and subjecting women to emotional and verbal abuse, and harassment in texts and on social media.”
The Times says it spoke to seven women and “more than a dozen associates” for the story, all of whom had similar stories that were reportedly corroborated by family and friends and, in some cases, correspondence from Adams.
Even This Is Us star and singer Mandy Moore, to whom Adams was married from 2009 to 2016, says in the article that “Music was a point of control” for her ex, and that her music career suffered because of it.
“He would always tell me, ‘You’re not a real musician, because you don’t play an instrument,’” Moore is quoted as saying, and blames Adams for her not having released an album since 2009, just after they were married. Megan Butterworth, to whom Adams was briefly engaged after divorcing Moore, also accused Adams of “controlling and emotionally abusive” behavior, according to the Times.
Adams’ attorney denies the accounts in the story, while Adams himself addressed the accusations on Twitter.
“I am not a perfect man and I have made many mistakes. To anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally, I apologize deeply and unreservedly,” Adams wrote Wednesday, before calling the article “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.”
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.”
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