Ryan Adams issues apology more than a year after initial abuse allegations

On 13 February 2019, The NYT released a report on Ryan Adams including an account of sexual misconduct with an underage fan, and several accounts of abusive behaviours in his previous relationships with Phoebe Bridgers, Mandy Moore, and Megan Butterworth.

More than a year on from the New York Times exposé, Ryan Adams has issued an apology via The Daily Mail, in which he says there are "no words to express how bad I feel about the ways I've mistreated people throughout my life and career."

"All I can say is that I'm sorry. It's that simple," Adams continues. "This period of isolation and reflection made me realise that I needed to make significant changes in my life. 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. I get that and I also understand that there's no going back. To a lot of people this will just seem like the same empty bullshit apology that I've always used when I was called out, and all I can say is, this time it is different."

He adds, "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. There is no way to convince people that this time is truly different, but this is the albatross that I deserve to carry with me as a result of my actions."

Adams also reveals he's trying to stay sober, "That being said, 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 behavior, and will be for my actions moving forward. In my effort to be a better man, I have fought to get sober, but this time I'm doing it with professional help. Sobriety is a priority in my life, and so is my mental health. These, as I'm learning, go hand in hand."

As well as confirming he has "written enough music to fill half a dozen albums", Adams concluded his apology by writing, "I hope that the people I've hurt will heal. And I hope that they will find a way to forgive me."

Karen Elson, a British supermodel and singer/songwriter who said in February 2019 that she had a "traumatising experience with Ryan Adams", has responded to his apology on Twitter. She writes, "My thoughts on Ryan Adam[s]. I believe in redemption and amends even for him. However he has not reached out to me since 2018 to apologise 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."

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_) July 4, 2020

In a second tweet, Elson adds, "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. That said I hope he’s listening now."

I would like to hope he would contact women he has hurt via his representatives to apologize 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. That said I hope he’s listening now.

— Karen Elson (@KarenElson_) July 4, 2020