Phoebe Bridgers Releases Statement About Ryan Adams Allegations
By Katrina Nattress
February 17, 2019
A few days ago, The New York Times published an exposé chronicling the harrowing stories of seven woman who had endured emotional and sexual abuse caused by Ryan Adams. Among the victims was the musician/producer's ex-wife Mandy Moore, an underage fan, and rising indie star Phoebe Bridgers.
On Saturday, Bridgers took to Twitter to address the allegations she made in the article.
“Thank you from my whole f***ing heart to my friends, my bands, my mom. They all supported and validated me. They told me that what had happened was f***ed up and wrong, and that I was right to feel weird about it,” the singer-songwriter wrote. “I couldn’t have done this without them.”
She then turned her focus to those close to Adams, criticizing them for turning a blind eye when they witnessed his inappropriate behavior. “Ryan had a network too. Friends, bands, people he worked with. None of them held him accountable,” she continued. “They told him, by what they said or by what they didn’t, that what he was doing was okay. They validated him. He couldn’t have done this without them.”
“Guys, if your friend is acting f***ed up, call them out. If they’re actually your friend, they’ll listen. That’s the way this all gets better,” she concluded.
While speaking with The New York Times, the 24-year-old musician said her relationship with Adams quickly became obsessive and emotionally abusive.
Read her full statement below.
hey so pic.twitter.com/P911Dvnfq3
— millennial falcon (@phoebe_bridgers) February 17, 2019
Since the allegations were made, Adams' upcoming album Big Colors has been "put on hold" by Universal Music Group. His longtime collaborator Jenny Lewis also addressed the allegations, saying she stands in solidarity with the women who have come forward.
The indie star denied all accusations in a a since-deleted series of tweets.
"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," her wrote. "I am resolved to work to be the best man I can be. And I wish everyone compassion, understanding and healing."
"But the picture that this article paints is upsettingly inaccurate. Some of its details are misrepresented; some are exaggerated; some are outright false," he continued. "I would never have inappropriate interactions with someone I thought was underage. Period."
The FBI is currently investigating the claims that Adams participated in inappropriate communication with a minor.
Photo: Getty Images