Ryan Adams allegations: Mandy Moore says ex-husband's 'unhealthy' dependency stalled her career
Moore was married to Adams from 2009 to 2016
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Your support makes all the difference.Actor and singer Mandy Moore has spoken out over her marriage to Ryan Adams following allegations of manipulative behaviour towards younger female artists.
A report in the New York Times spoke with several female singers who described a pattern of behaviour where Adams “dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex”.
Along with Moore, the investigation quoted American singer Phoebe Bridgers, who claimed that Adams reached out to her in 2014, when she was 20, and offered to help her with her career. According to her, a professional correspondence turned into a romantic relationship that became emotionally abusive.
Bridgers alleged that Adams refused to help her with her career once she broke up with him, and in one instance, exposed himself to her.
Since the allegations were made public, a number of Adams’ previous collaborators have released statements about their own experiences with the musician, including Karen Elson, Natalie Prass, Jenny Lewis and Liz Phair.
Moore, who was married to Adams from 2009 to 2016, claims that Adams routinely subjected her to manipulative and emotionally abusive behaviour throughout their marriage.
Appearing on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast (via Pitchfork), she said that they had an “unhealthy dynamic” that defined their relationship from the beginning: “I was living my life for him,” she said. “I had no sense of self. I felt like I was drowning. It was so untenable and unsustainable and it was so lonely. I was so sad. I was lonely with him.”
Moore added that she turned down several offers of work because she felt concerned over how Adams’ dependency would react if she was away for long periods of time.
“I would do little jobs,” she said. “It’s not like I completely stopped working. I would do things here or there, but it would become abundently clear while I was working, things would completely fall apart at home. I couldn’t do my job because there was a constant stream of trying to pay attention to this person who needed me and wouldn’t let me do anything else.”
As a result of the New York Times article, Adams is reportedly being investigated by the FBI over the allegations, which include the claim that he engaged in sexually explicit communications with an underage fan.
His new album Big Colors was recently pulled from its scheduled release date of 19 April. Music equipment companies Benson Amps and JHS pedals, which have produced signature amps and guitar pedals with Adams, have terminated their relationship with him.
Adams denied all of the allegations against him in a statement to the Times and via a series of tweets.
“I am not a perfect man and have made many mistakes,” he said. “To anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally, I apologise deeply and unreservedly. But the picture 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 thought was underage.”