Musician Karen Elson has shared her thoughts on Los Angeles Magazine's recent in-depth feature on Ryan Adams, his first since being accused of sexual misconduct and emotional abuse by several women in 2019.
Elson took to Twitter following the feature's publication, writing that it "attempts to gaslight and rewrite the experiences of many without asking for their opinion on this beforehand."
She continued: "I hope Ryan comes to the realization that an apology should contain accountability."
She also revealed that her hesitancy to discuss her experience with Adams in detail is in part due to the threat of legal action being taken against her by Adams' legal team.
Following the initial report of Adams' misconduct in 2019, Elson wrote and then deleted a post hinting at a "traumatizing experience" with him. When a public apology from Adams was posted by the Daily Mail last year, she commented, "I believe in redemption and amends even for him. However, he has not reached out to me since 2018 to apologize for his terrible behaviour… His actions going forward will dictate the sincerity of his statement and if I'm able to forgive."
In the recent LA Mag profile, Adams bemoans the loss of his career and the damage that the "deeply hurtful" allegations have had on his personal life. The piece has been met with anger and ridicule from those who say it attempts to discredit and demean Adams' accusers.
Read Elson's full statement below [via Rolling Stone]:
My thoughts on Ryan [Adams], in light of his interview. In 2018 I sent Ryan a cease and desist due to my suspicions of his alleged involvement behind some calculated, malicious and explicit cyber harassment that occurred shortly after I stopped communicating with him.
Ryan denied any wrongdoing and I was ultimately threatened with a "false prosecution lawsuit." I have [spoken] very little about my situation for this reason but was subsequently made aware others had allegedly experienced similar things online when distancing themselves from him.
I've never asked people to boycott his music. I am a big believer in redemption if you are able to admit wrongdoing and make amends. He has yet to both. This article attempts to gaslight and rewrite the experiences of many without asking for their opinion on this beforehand.
I hope Ryan comes to the realization that an apology should contain accountability. I look forward to the day I'm able to receive that.
Elson took to Twitter following the feature's publication, writing that it "attempts to gaslight and rewrite the experiences of many without asking for their opinion on this beforehand."
She continued: "I hope Ryan comes to the realization that an apology should contain accountability."
She also revealed that her hesitancy to discuss her experience with Adams in detail is in part due to the threat of legal action being taken against her by Adams' legal team.
Following the initial report of Adams' misconduct in 2019, Elson wrote and then deleted a post hinting at a "traumatizing experience" with him. When a public apology from Adams was posted by the Daily Mail last year, she commented, "I believe in redemption and amends even for him. However, he has not reached out to me since 2018 to apologize for his terrible behaviour… His actions going forward will dictate the sincerity of his statement and if I'm able to forgive."
In the recent LA Mag profile, Adams bemoans the loss of his career and the damage that the "deeply hurtful" allegations have had on his personal life. The piece has been met with anger and ridicule from those who say it attempts to discredit and demean Adams' accusers.
Read Elson's full statement below [via Rolling Stone]:
My thoughts on Ryan [Adams], in light of his interview. In 2018 I sent Ryan a cease and desist due to my suspicions of his alleged involvement behind some calculated, malicious and explicit cyber harassment that occurred shortly after I stopped communicating with him.
Ryan denied any wrongdoing and I was ultimately threatened with a "false prosecution lawsuit." I have [spoken] very little about my situation for this reason but was subsequently made aware others had allegedly experienced similar things online when distancing themselves from him.
I've never asked people to boycott his music. I am a big believer in redemption if you are able to admit wrongdoing and make amends. He has yet to both. This article attempts to gaslight and rewrite the experiences of many without asking for their opinion on this beforehand.
I hope Ryan comes to the realization that an apology should contain accountability. I look forward to the day I'm able to receive that.