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An American singer has taken aim at fans who he labelled the ‘worst people ever’ (Picture: Dave Simpson/ Getty Images) An American singer has apologised to Australian fans after he said they were the ‘worst people ever’. Over the past few weeks, Ryan Adams had been playing shows Down Under as part of his Heartbreaker ’25 World Tour. The 50-year-old rose to fame as part of the alternative country band Whiskeytown in the 1990s, eventually going solo and releasing his debut album, Heartbreaker, to critical acclaim. Throughout his career he’s also worked with Willie Nelson, Fall Out Boy and Norah Jones. However, a few days ago he lashed out at fans after recent shows. Following performances in Sydney and Melbourne, fans said he’d acted ‘unprofessional’ and labelled his behaviour ‘concerning’. Ryan Adams recently wrapped up his tour in Australia and New Zealand (Picture: Dave Simpson/ Getty Images) However he then said Australia was the ‘worst country ever’ (Picture: Ryan Adams/ Instagram) During one show, he ‘ranted and rambled’ about his ex-wife, actress Mandy Moore, before walking off stage. Meanwhile others said concertgoers ‘yelled’ at him to play after he kept ‘abandoning’ songs and stopping shows. After complaints started circulating online, Adams took aim. ‘Worst country ever, every time to play, Thank f*** never again. You are the worst people, and you know it and the best you can go is copy Americans and UK culture. Stew in your own juices,’ he wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post. He later went on to share on social media that he was ‘wildly embarrassed and disappointed’ over his on-stage behaviour, which he said was caused by an ocular seizure brought on by camera flashes. ‘I love you all and I’m so sorry. You did nothing wrong. It’s normal to take photos and it’s normal to use a flash. I’ve had this my whole life and it’s been a real struggle because I love playing music for you live and I just can’t play with my eyes closed all night,’ he wrote in a post that he later deleted. Before his show in Wellington, New Zealand, Adams also posted a photo of his setlist and wrote: ‘I get so much done with the audience takes the no flash/ health hazard phone flash thing seriously. Still can’t see out of my left eye. Thanks AUS. See you never.’ https://www.instagram.com/p/DPsjbG7kuWb/ Going back and forth with himself, he then shared another update, which read: ‘I regret saying anything after and I regret making it seem like I was addressing an entire country. I wasn’t.’ A few days on, he’s now backtracked and offered a grovelling apology after he was slammed for attacking his fans. Posting a photo in bed with his eyes closed, the performer began by writing: ‘An Apology, I overreacted to a troll who repeatedly harassed myself and others in Sydney. It was a beautiful show. It was wrong. I should have just showed the standing ovation. ‘We are all so tired, giving the shows all we have, beyond any above. We came here because we love you and want to play 3 hour shows for you. ‘I am sick with a bruised sternum and a chest cold. When I cough it feels like I have a chest buster from Alien in me. I don’t want to be one of those people and that’s what happened. I’m too old for that mess now. To tired. Too in love with my life. ‘To my agents and management and my crew and my fans I am sorry. I am a bit of a Scorpio bas**** once in a moon. With respect and love. DRA.’ He then went on to confirm his tour had been his ‘very last show overseas’. The musician rose to fame as part of the band Whiskeytown (Picture: Brigitte Engl/ Redferns) ‘I might not see you again, but I’ll keep making these records and books because I love it … And I love you,’ he explained. Earlier this year Adams also stormed off stage while playing a show in Belfast after lambasting fans for using flash. ‘Stop f***ing flashing. I warned you. You could kill me. I have epilepsy and Meniere’s disease. F*** you, I’m not coming back until you stop flashing,’ he said before throwing down his microphone and walking off. He eventually returned to stage and told the audience he’d suffered an ‘epileptic seizure’ backstage. Adams recent tour comes a few years after reports emerged in 2019 that seven women, including Phoebe Bridgers and his ex-wife Moore claimed he’d offered to assist them with their music careers, then pursued them romantically. They also claimed he’d retaliated when they’d rejected his advances by hindering their careers and harassing them in text messages and on social media. He was previously married to Mandy Moore (Picture: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage) Although he initially denied the allegations, Adams went on to issue an apology for his ‘harmful behaviour’ the following year. He also told Los Angeles Magazine that he felt his accusers ‘were asking me to die’. ‘So, I’m losing my life’s work, and my dream of who I am, my ability to provide for myself. And I now don’t have the emotional support to help fix this. The door has slammed and what am I going to do?,’ he said. Soon after his ex-wife, whom he was married to from 2009 until 2015, revealed that while he’d apologised publicly, she’d not heard anything from him personally. ‘I am speaking for myself, 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 do an interview about it without actually making amends privately,’ she said. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
