Seven women – including Mandy Moore – have accused US singer-songwriter Ryan Adams of harassment, emotional abuse and sexual misconduct.

The claims were aired in a New York Times article published on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) that details supposed predatory behaviour with an underage girl that the FBI is now reportedly looking into, among other alleged abuses of power.

Journalists Joe Coscarelli and Melena Ryzik also report that Adams, 44, allegedly had a history of telling young women he’d help nurture their music career and then pursue sexual relationships with them. They allege that when Adams was rejected, he’d retaliate.

Adams, who was married to Moore from 2009 to 2016, has denied the potentially criminal aspects to the claims, but also made an apology in a series of Tweets in response to the article.

“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 wrote.

“But the picture that 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. Period.”

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

Mandy Moore: ‘He was controlling and abusive’

This Is Usstar Mandy Moore told theNew York Timesthat her ex-husband was “controlling”, emotionally abusive and effectively killed her music career.

“He would always tell me, ‘You’re not a real musician, because you don’t play an instrument.'”

The 34-year-old said that he prevented her from working with other artists, producers and musicians, but then wouldn’t record with her himself.

Moore released her last record around the time they married in 2009 and hasn’t released music since. The actress, who is now married to musician Taylor Goldsmith told theTimesshe plans to start making music again.

Adams’ alleged text relationship with an underage girl

The potentially most damning of the claims within theNew York Timespiece comes from a now-20-year-old woman identified as Ava, who said she had an ongoing friendship with the singer over texts beginning when she was 14 years old.

In particular, the FBI is reportedly interested in finding out if Adams exchanged sexually explicit texts with someone underage – which is illegal in some US states.

According to theTimes, the pair exchanged more than 3000 text messages over a nine-month period when Ava, a budding bass guitarist, was 15 and 16 years old.

His texts allegedly included:

“I would get in trouble if someone knew we talked like this.”

“If people knew they would say I was like R Kelley [sic] lol.”

“I just want you to touch your nipple.”

He reportedly repeatedly asked for her age, to which she would lie and say was 18.

Through his lawyer, Adams denied having any illegal interactions with underage girls.

Whether Adams faces legal ramifications or not, the emotional toll his alleged actions took was devastating for Ava. After a promising start to her music career, she came to believe that the only way to get ahead would be to sleep with people, which put her off a career in the industry entirely.

Other women’s careers damaged

Four of the other women in theNew York Timesfeature told variations of the same story: Adams took an interest in them musically, promised to help their career, then came on to them.

One woman who then began a relationship with Adams was Phoebe Bridgers, who was aged 20 at the time when she met him in 2014.

However, she alleged that he became emotionally abusive shortly into their brief relationship and, when they broke up, reneged on offers for her to open his concerts and initially avoided releasing songs they recorded together, which he denies.

Other women say they were harassed and threatened with professional retaliation after rejecting his sexual advances.

His ex-fiancee Megan Butterworth also alleged that he became emotionally abusive during their relationship, and, when the broke up in 2018, threatened her with his own suicide as well as lawsuits.

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