Are Ryan Adams and Jason Isbell in a fight? Adams throws shade at Raleigh NC concert
Ryan Adams used a recent performance in Raleigh to hurl insults at one of his ex-friends.
The North Carolina native and seven-time Grammy-nominated artist name-dropped Jason Isbell into his songs at the June 21 concert at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.
“This concert’s a lot like if you went to see Jason Isbell, but all the songs are really good and you didn’t leave, and it sounded like somebody was yelling at you for two f—ing hours,” sang Adams, who’s from Jacksonville.
He continued with the insults, which you can listen to in a video on YouTube. But be warned, there is choice language.
Adams is on tour celebrating the 20th and 10th anniversaries of two albums — “Love is Hell” and “Ryan Adams,” respectively. Isbell, meanwhile, is also on tour and playing with artists including Zach Bryan.
These two used to be close friends. How did it get to this point?
A personal and professional relationship
Adams was one of the people who helped Isbell, who struggled with alcoholism, get into rehab in 2012. After he left rehab, his first show was opening for Adams, GQ reported.
According to the publication Saving Country Music, Isbell picked Adams to produce his album “Southeastern,” though a scheduling conflict resulted in Dave Cobb taking on the role.
But during the #MeToo Movement, multiple women accused Adams of manipulative behavior. According to an article published by The New York Times in 2019, “Adams dangled career opportunities while simultaneously pursuing female artists for sex. In some cases, they said, he would turn domineering and vengeful, jerking away his offers of support when spurned, and subjecting women to emotional and verbal abuse, and harassment in texts and on social media.”
Adams also had sexual conversations with a fan who was 14 years old in 2013, when he began corresponding online with her, according to the article. Adams and the fan eventually spoke on video calls, where Adams exposed himself.
The fallout
After the article was published, Adams went on Twitter to “apologize deeply and unreservedly” to “anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally,” while also disputing the article.
“But the picture this article paints is upsettingly inaccurate,” Adams tweeted. “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.”
Isbell also used Twitter to speak about the reporting. According to GQ, Isbell tweeted that he believed the women who accused Adams, and in a 2020 interview with GQ, Isbell said he was no longer speaking to Adams.
“And the situation with Ryan and with the Times story made me rethink my friendships with other men and how much we’re actually sharing with each other. And I think it really helped me redefine, you know, what kind of a friend I want to be to somebody,” Isbell told GQ.
