Ryan Adams accused of sexual misconduct
Several women are accusing singer-songwriter Ryan Adams of emotional abuse and sexual misconduct, including his ex-wife, actress and singer Mandy Moore, and a woman who says she was underage when Adams exposed himself to her during a video chat.
Several of the more than a dozen people who spoke to The New York Times said Adams would promise career opportunities, but if they rejected his advances, he would become emotionally and verbally abusive. Moore told the Times that "music was a point of control for him," and he would often promise to bring her into the studio but then replace her with another artist. "He would always tell me, 'You're not a real musician, because you don't play an instrument,'" she said.
One woman, now 20, told the Times she started talking with Adams online in 2013. She plays bass, and it wasn't long before their chats about music and a career turned into phone sex. The Times reviewed 3,217 text messages between Adams and the woman, who is identified by her middle name, Ava. The texts show that Adams repeatedly asked Ava about her age, and even though she said at times she was 18 or older, he still said in 2014 that he would "get in trouble if someone knew we talked like this." She also told the Times that she once agreed to video chat with him, and once they were connected, she saw that he was naked.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Adams' lawyer told the Times his client "unequivocally denies that he ever engaged in appropriate online sexual communications with someone he knew was underage." On Twitter Wednesday evening, Adams said he's "not a perfect man," but the "picture that this article paints is upsettingly inaccurate."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Magazine interactive crossword - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - April 26, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - April 26, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the Riveters
Speed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Outgunned Ukraine could fall, US general warns
Speed Read Without more US aid, Ukraine is at risk of losing the war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published