The singer/songwriter Ryan Adams has released an apology letter to his ex-wife Mandy Moore (This Is Us, Princess Diaries, Tangled) following his past year in therapy and turning to sobriety, according to Deadline. In a New York Times article published in 2019, Moore, among other women, detail how Adams utilized music as control mechanism to prey on young women. When they initially met, Moore was just 23 and finally getting started with her promising music career while Adams was 32, with a credible reputation within the music industry. Moreover, in 2010, Adams allegedly offered his help with Moore’s upcoming album and ultimately discouraged her from taking on new management, allegedly leaving him in charge of her career. They eventually wrote songs together that Adams vowed he would record, yet allegedly never followed through. Additionally, he allegedly lashed out at Moore in ways that could be considered verbally abusive during their 6 years of marriage, halting her music career by reportedly saying, “You’re not a real musician because you don’t play an instrument,” via Deadline.
Moore launched her career as a pop star during the 90s but earned a major role on NBC’s This Is Us in 2016. The show surrounds Jack, played by Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls, The Art of Racing in the Rain) and Rebecca, played by Moore, who is pregnant with triplets and is days past her due date when the couple moves into their new home in Pittsburgh. The show features the stories of the triplets, Kevin, Kate, and Randall as they grow from their adolescent to teen years, and in the future, now in their 30s. Alongside Ventimiglia and Moore, the series also features Justin Hartley as Kevin (Smallville, Passions), Chrissy Metz (Sierra Burgess is a Loser), as Kate and Sterling K. Brown (Black Panther, American Crime Story) as Randall. While these characters play the adult roles of their respective child, the show employs two other sets of triplets that act as the kids during their child and teen years. The show was awarded several awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, given to the cast members, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding lead Actor in a Drama Series, awarded to Brown.
Moore detailed more of her alleged abuse and how Adams was allegedly controlling with most of his relationships with women. Moore released her sixth album before the couple was married yet hasn’t released an album since. In a statement, Moore said, “His controlling behavior 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,” via Deadline. Their divorce was finalized in 2016 and Adams continuously denied her claims of emotional abuse. Adams has now issued an apology in the form of a letter for his abusive behavior towards the This Is Us star and the other women.
“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,” he wrote, according to Deadline, “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. This period of isolation and reflection made me realize that I needed to make significant changes in my life.”
Although when the New York Times article was published, Adams had plans for a tour and upcoming album, he now denies the beliefs that this was an attempt at a career comeback.