Mandy Moore Has Spoken Out About Her ‘Psychologically Abusive’ Relationship With Ex-Husband Ryan Adams

Mandy Moore has spoken out about her ‘psychologically abusive’ relationship with American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams, whom she was married to for six years.

The This Is Us actress spoke to The New York Times along with six other women who have accused Adams of sexual misconduct and emotional abuse.

The women, including singers Phoebe Bridgers and Courtney Jaye, claim Adams “dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex”. One of these artists was just 14 years of age when she was contacted by Adams, and says their texts soon became sexually explicit.

“Music was a point of control for him,” Moore told the newspaper. “He would always tell me, ‘You’re not a real musician, because you don’t play an instrument.'”

Moore says that in 2010, Adams offered to work on her next album and discouraged her from working with any other producers, effectively taking control of her music career. They wrote songs together that he promised to record, but when he booked them time at his studio, he’d end up replacing her with other female artists.

She says he often lashed out at her in ways she came to consider ‘psychologically abusive’: “His controlling behaviour essentially did block my ability to make new connections in the industry during a very pivotal and potentially lucrative time – my entire mid-to-late 20s.”

Moore and Adams’ divorce was finalised in 2016. She previously referenced their “unhealthy” relationship in an interview with Glamour magazine last year:

I don’t feel guilty for [the divorce]. When people said “I’m sorry”, I was like, “No. Sorry would have been had I stayed in a very unhealthy situation.” I didn’t. I found my way out. And when I did, things opened back up again.

Responding to The New York Times story, Adams posted a series of tweets apologising “to anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally”, but said the reporting was “upsettingly inaccurate”.

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.

— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) February 13, 2019

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.

— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) February 13, 2019

Moore says that she and the other women who were “scarred” by their relationships with Adams have since found a support system in one another.

“What you experience with him – the treatment, the destructive, manic sort of back and forth behaviour – feels so exclusive,” she told The New York Times.

You feel like there’s no way other people have been treated like this… I want to make music. I’m not going to let Ryan stop me.

• mandy moore