On July 3 – more than a year after The New York Times released a detailed and upsetting #MeToo era exposé accusing rocker Ryan Adams of psychologically abusing or sexually harassing at least seven women in his life, including his ex-wife — DailyMail.com published a lengthy apology written by the rocker.
Though Ryan also apologized back in 2019 — while criticizing the accuracy of the Times' reporting and denying any wrongdoing — he's since explained that he's now sober and wanted to say it again, this time after confronting his behavior. "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," Ryan began his new mea culpa.
A few days later on July 6, ex-wife Mandy Moore — who's previously accused him of being controlling and psychologically abusive during their relationship (their divorce was finalized in 2016) — was asked by Hoda Kotb during an unrelated interview on the "Today" show, where she was promoting her hit NBC show "This Is Us," what she thought about her ex-husband's apology and if she believes he's changed.
"You know, it's challenging because I feel like in many ways, I've said all I want to say about him and that situation," Mandy said, "but I find it curious that someone would make a public apology but not do it privately.
"I am speaking for myself," she added, "but I have not heard from him and I'm not looking for an apology necessarily, but I do find it curious that someone would sort of do an interview about it without actually making amends privately."
According to Ryan, he wanted to issue a more heartfelt public apology because he's "gotten past the point where I would be apologizing just for the sake of being let off the hook." He also said he knows "full well that any apology from me probably won't be accepted by those I've hurt. I get that and I also understand that there's no going back."
He continued, "To a lot of people this will just seem like the same empty bulls— apology that I've always used when I was called out, and all I can say is, this time it is different. Having truly realized the harm that I've caused, it wrecked me, and I'm still reeling from the ripples of devastating effects that my actions triggered."
He said he's been working on himself but acknowledged that "no amount of growth will ever take away the suffering I had caused. I will never be off the hook and I am fully accountable for my harmful behavior, and will be for my actions moving forward." He insisted that "I'm really trying" and expressed his hope "that the people I've hurt will heal. And I hope that they will find a way to forgive me."