Ryan Adams’ Guitarist Calls Emotional Abuse Accusations ‘Sickening and Embarrassing’
Sean Burch
Musician Ryan Adams says he has “a lot to say” and that he will speak up “soon” about emotional abuse accusations against him from seven women stemming from a New York Times investigation in February.In a message posted to his social media accounts late Friday and early Saturday, Adams said he’s tried to be “open and accountable” for his actions despite his flaws.“I have a lot to say. I am going to. Soon. Because the truth matters. It’s what matters most. I know who I am. What I am. It’s time people know. Past time,” Adams wrote. “My work was always meant to be a map for the lost. I’ve tried my best to be open and accountable. Not a billboard. I mean, maybe for being flawed. I’ve always wanted to help. I’m trying. So, soon… because it’s time to get back to what I do best. I’m here for the music, for the love and for making things better.”Also Read: Ryan Adams' Guitarist Calls Emotional Abuse Accusations 'Sickening and Embarrassing'Seven women were quoted in the Times piece accusing Adams of emotionally manipulative behavior, including his ex-wife, “This is Us” star Mandy Moore and underage, at the time, musician Phoebe Bridgers. The article goes on to describe a pattern of the indie rock artist using his stature as a successful artist, producer and record-company founder to offer career opportunities to young, female artists, and then pursue sex.“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 said in response to the investigation. “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 though was underage. Period.”In the wake of the accusations, Adams’s UK and Ireland tour was cancelled, and his album release was also nixed. Earlier in the evening on Friday, Adams also released a snippet of a song that Pitchfork notes “I’m Sorry and I Love You” that was originally meant to be included on his album “Big Colors.”Also Read: Olivia Munn Says Ben and Casey Affleck Need to Step Aside Over Past MeToo Accusations“The amends made and things lost in the noise, that should’ve mattered too. I want to be a part of that healing. To go play have some great shows and put out these badass records,” Adams continued in his social media post Saturday. “Believe Women. Believe Truth. But never give up on being part of solutions, and healing.”Read Adams’s full Instagram post below:View this post on Instagram “I have a lot to say. I am going to. Soon. Because the truth matters. It’s what matters most. I know who I am. What I am. It's time people know. Past time. All the beauty in a life cannot be reduced to rubble for confusion, ignoring truths that destroy all the good in us. This madness and misunderstanding. There’s enough of that in this world My work was always meant to be a map for the lost. I’ve tried my best to be open and accountable. Not a billboard. I mean, maybe for being flawed. I’ve always wanted to help. I’m trying. So, soon… because it’s time to get back to what I do best. I’m here for the music, for the love and for making things better. I didn’t have an easy life. I lost my brother the day the Prisoner Tour ended. Every night wondering if he would be alive. He was proud of me. My family and my friends were there for that. And so many great fans. For the Meineres community who suffer every day. This music was for then. It mattered. And that was always for it to help. So let’s do that. THAT will matter. The amends made and things lost in the noise, that should’ve mattered too. I want to be a part of that healing. To go play have some great shows and put out these badass records. Believe Women. Believe Truth. But never give up on being part of solutions, and healing. I’ve lost friends who have passed away in this time of self reflection and silence. I can’t be like that. There’s been too much that mattered. Thank you for your kindness, your support and for this time I needed to decide how I could be a part of a better tomorrow for everybody. Sometimes that peace comes from opening yourself up. That’s who I want to be. Here’s to that. With love and with faith- In all of us and our best and our faults RAA post shared by Ryan Adams (@ryanadams) on Jul 20, 2019 at 12:11am PDTRead original story Ryan Adams Says He Will Speak Up ‘Soon’ About Emotional Abuse Accusations: ‘I Have a Lot to Say’ At TheWrap
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams’ guitarist, Todd Wisenbaker, has called the emotional abuse and sexual misconduct accusations by seven women — including an underage teenage girl and his former wife, “This Is Us” star Mandy Moore — against the musician “sickening and embarrassing.”
“There were times when I chose to believe his insane version of the truth because it was easier than believing that anyone is capable of being this much of a monster,” Wisenbaker wrote on Instagram Tuesday. “It’s sickening and embarrassing. I’ve recently learned that pretty much everything he’s ever told me is a lie upon a lie upon a lie.”
Wisenbaker’s post comes a week after The New York Times described a pattern of Adams offering career opportunities to young female artists, then pursuing sex. Wielding his power as a successful musician/producer and record-company founder, he would sometimes “turn domineering and vengeful, jerking away his offers of support when spurned, and subject[ed] women to emotional and verbal abuse, and harassment in texts and on social media,” the Times wrote.
“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 tweeted last week, following the report. “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 though was underage. Period.”
He added: “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.”
One 20-year-old woman, identified by the Times only as Ava, said Adams first contacted her when she was 14 and a promising bass player. Their online communications about music turned sexual, and the newspaper said they eventually spoke in video calls in which Adams exposed himself and discussed sex — while fretting about her age. Other women told The Times that Adams routinely tried to use his musical success to lure and manipulate women.
Moore, who was married to Adams from 2009 to 2016, said his “controlling behavior” essentially blocked her “ability to make new connections in the industry during a very pivotal and potentially lucrative time — my entire mid-to-late 20s.”
Wisenbaker, in his Instagram post, said Adams had “excuses and denials for everything.” The guitarist said he attempted to help Adams, but his life turned into a “complete s—storm of someone else’s utter delusion.”
He added: “I didn’t want to say anything because I’m actively afraid for the safety of my family, but I do realize that i have a responsibility to speak up. The women that spoke out are brave beyond words.”
