Ryan Adams stormed off stage during a set in Belfast that has been described by fans in attendance as “chaos”.
The singer-songwriter was playing at the city’s Waterfront Hall on Saturday (April 5) at a show to mark the 25th anniversary of his debut solo album ‘Heartbreaker’.
Belfast Telegraph reports that it was halfway through the set that Adams abandoned the stage. “Stop fucking flashing. I warned you. You could kill me. I have epilepsy and Meniere’s disease. Fuck you, I’m not coming back until you stop flashing,” he exclaimed, before throwing down his microphone and walking off.
There had been signs put up throughout the venue to warn fans against the use of flash photography due to Adams’ condition, but it appears that some in attendance did not follow the guidelines, despite additional requests from the artist.
Adams returned to the stage nearly half an hour later, telling the 1400-strong audience that he had suffered an “epileptic seizure” backstage.
It was, however, not the only moment of erratic behaviour during the show. Adams hand-delivered a copy of his upcoming novel The Greatest Movie Ever Made to one fan, and requested that one disruptive audience member be moved to the front of the venue so Adams could “keep an eye on him”.
There were reports of strained interactions with the audience repeatedly through the set, while he also handed one woman a signed copy of an email that she had sent to the Waterfront Hall requesting a birthday shout-out.
It’s hard to know where to start with tonight’s Ryan Adams show at the Waterfront.
But the man needs help badly. It’s quite sad to see someone so talented lose it in front of your eyes pic.twitter.com/zROoCJPkDG
— Gareth McCullough (@Gareth_McCull) April 5, 2025
Several in attendance took to social media after the show to share their thoughts on the experience. “It’s hard to know where to start with tonight’s Ryan Adams show at the Waterfront,” wrote one. “But the man needs help badly. It’s quite sad to see someone so talented lose it in front of your eyes.”
See other reactions on X below.
Went to the worst ‘concert’ I’ve ever been to tonight in the Waterfront Hall. Ryan Adams forgot the bit about giving the audience a good performance in return for their hard earned cash! By performance I don’t mean throwing a tantrum dressed up as Oscar Wilde!! #RyanAdamsBelfast pic.twitter.com/mcatYCYAEQ
— Tracey (@anti_plasticbag) April 5, 2025
Wish we’d left with you! It went from bad to worse! How he thinks he deserves people’s hard earned money for that I don’t know!
— Tracey (@anti_plasticbag) April 5, 2025
Ryan Adams at the Waterfront has been…an experience?
— Keith Bailie (@KeithJBailie) April 5, 2025
Can’t say I have been to a gig like the Ryan Adams one tonight.
But shout out to the guy beside me who kept giving Ryan a thumbs up at random times throughout the… set?
— Scott Gilliland (@scotthgilliland) April 5, 2025
struggling to describe the chaos of ryan adams belfast tn.
— emmy (@emmyeliza__) April 5, 2025
Perhaps the saddest part of tonight’s Ryan Adams concert in Belfast, near the end of the night, a group in front of me actively tried to use flash photography to cause another seizure.
— Cardinal Smith (@Cardinal_Smith_) April 5, 2025
In 2019, Adams was accused by multiple women, including ex-wife Mandy Moore and Phoebe Bridgers, of emotional abuse and manipulative behaviour, with further allegations of sexual misconduct.
An FBI investigation concluded without any charges being filed and Adams later issued a lengthy apology for his “harmful behaviour”, pleading for a “second chance” in music.
Moore said she found it “curious” that his public apology was not accompanied by a private apology. “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.”
Adams later told Los Angeles Magazine that he felt his accusers “were asking me to die”, adding: “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?”
