“Stop f**king flashing. You could kill me”: Ryan Adams storms off stage during gig in Belfast
Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams left an audience stunned over the weekend when he stormed off stage during a gig in Belfast.
The incident occurred as he was playing at the city’s Waterfront Hall on Saturday 5 April, in a show marking the 25th anniversary of his debut solo album, Heartbreaker.
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According to the Belfast Telegraph, Adams angrily addressed the crowd, accusing them of using flash photography and setting off his epilepsy.
“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 said, before throwing down his mic and storming off stage.
Per NME, signs had been placed throughout the venue warning fans against the use of flash photography due to Adams’ condition, but some didn’t follow the guidelines despite further requests from Adams himself.
Half an hour after storming off stage, Adams returned, informing the 1400-strong crowd that he had suffered an “epileptic seizure” backstage.
More bizarre behaviour came from Adams throughout the show, however; at one point he hand-delivered a copy of his upcoming novel The Greatest Movie Ever Made to one fan in the audience, and asked that a disruptive gig-goer be moved to the front of the venue so he could “keep an eye on him”.
Many concert-goers have since taken to social media to share their experience of the event, with one writing: “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.”
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
“If you haven’t been to see Ryan Adams yet…don’t. Won tickets to see him and still feel like I’m due a refund. Left after 3 songs. Avoid,” another user writes, to which another replies: “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!”
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
Another user alleges that a group of people in the crowd deliberately shone flashes at Adams.
“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,” the person writes.
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, Ryan 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.
A subsequent FBI investigation concluded without any charges being filed, and Adams then issued a lengthy apology for his “harmful behaviour”, pleading for a “second chance” in music.
For a full list of Ryan Adams’ forthcoming tour dates, head to his official website.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
