Ryan Adams writes apology letter one year after being accused of sexual misconduct and psychological abuse
Ryan Adams has written an apology for the way he “mistreated people through my life and career”.
In an open letter published by the Daily Mail, the musician apologised for his behaviour but did not specifically respond to the multiple allegations of emotional and psychological abuse made against him last year.
The New York Times reported in 2019 that the 45-year-old was accused of “[dangling] career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex”.
Adams’s ex-wife, musician and actor Mandy Moore, alleged that Adams was psychologically abusive during their marriage.
Phoebe Bridgers, Karen Elson and Liz Phair were among the other musicians to accuse Adams of misconduct.
After The New York Times published the allegations against Adams, the record label Blue Note cancelled the release of his 18th album, Big Colors.
“There are no words to express how bad I feel about the ways I’ve mistreated people through my life and career,” Adams said in the letter. “All I can say is that I’m sorry.”
He said that his apology was prompted by an extended “period of isolation and reflection” during lockdown.
“I’ve gotten past the point where I would be apologising just for the sake of being let off the hook and I know full well that any apology from me probably won’t be accepted by those I’ve hurt,” he wrote.
“I get that and I also understand that there’s no going back.”
He added: “Having truly realised the harm that I’ve caused, it wrecked me, and I’m still reeling from the ripples of devastating effects that my actions triggered.
“No amount of growth will ever take away the suffering I had caused. I will never be off the hook and I am fully accountable for my harmful behaviour, and will be for my actions moving forward.”
Adams’s apology has been met by scepticism from many, including Elson, who described her experience with Adams as “traumatising”, following The New York Times report.
She tweeted that, while she “believe[s] in redemption and amends even for him”, Adams had “not reached out to me since 2018 to apologise for his terrible behaviour”.
My thoughts on Ryan Adam. I believe in redemption and amends even for him. However he has not reached out to me since 2018 to apologize for his terrible behavior. In fact back then he called a liar which added more pain and made me disillusioned with the entire music industry.
— Karen Elson (@KarenElson_)
“In fact, back then he called me a liar which added more pain and made me disillusioned with the entire music industry,” she wrote.
“I would like to hope he would contact women he has hurt via his representatives to apologise privately and give us the opportunity to speak our truth on all the ways his actions caused suffering and for him to listen and try to make amends.”
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