Singer Ryan Adams strikes apologetic note after women accuse him of sexual misconduct

RYAN ADAMS has apologised “to anyone I have ever hurt” after seven women accused the US singer-songwriter of sexual misconduct.

The women claimed in The New York Times that Adams, 44, promised to help promote their careers, while he pursued them for sex. If they spurned his advances, some claimed he subjected them to verbal and emotional abuse and withdrew the offers for help.

Mandy Moore, the singer and actress who was married to Adams from 200916, also accused him of harming her career. She claimed that Adams, who helped her professionally from 2010, “discouraged” her from working with others, but after writing songs together, Adams would “replace her with other female artists” when it came time to record the tracks. The actress also claimed he was “psychologically abusive” and belittled her musical abilities.

Megan Butterworth, Adams’s ex-fiancée, also described him as controlling and emotionally abusive. Adams was also accused of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with a teenage girl, Ava, who was an aspiring musician.

Andrew Brettler, Adams’s lawyer, denied that his client had ever attempted to scupper his ex-wife’s career. He said Moore’s account was “completely inconsistent with his view of the relationship”, adding that Adams was supportive of her “well-deserved professional success”.

Mr Brettler said Adams disputed many of the women’s versions of events. On Wednesday, Adams said: “I am not a perfect man and I have made many mistakes. To anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally, I apologise deeply and unreservedly.”

He said of the New York Times report: “This article 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 under age. Period.”