This week, all hell broke loose after model Sumner Stroh revealed on TikTok that she had a yearlong affair with Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine.
“I was having an affair with a man who’s married to a Victoria’s Secret model,” Sumner said. “At the time, I was young, I was naive, and, I mean, quite frankly, I feel exploited. I wasn’t in ‘the scene’ like I am now, so I was definitely very easily manipulated.”
She then green-screened the alleged DMs between the two:
In another now-infamous alleged DM, Sumner said after she stopped talking to Adam for months, he randomly asked if she’d be OK with him naming his future child after her:
“My morals were unknowingly compromised. I was completely manipulated,” Sumner said. “I wanted to handle this privately. I never wanted to come forward because obviously, I know the implications of doing what I do — making the money the way I do, being an Instagram model…I know the stereotypes.”
The entire situation — especially the baby name thing — became a huge scandal and meme online. There were a bunch of viral tweets:
after Adam Levine cheating on his wife let’s remember & normalize the fact that cheating was never about a woman’s lack of beauty, worth or anything for that matter but instead a man’s abundance of insecurities, unworthiness & desperation. don’t let men manipulate that reality
today I learned that Adam Levine is married to a VS model
then I learned that he cheated on her after 8 yrs of marriage while she’s pregnant w/ their 3rd child
and 3 secs after THAT I learned he wanted to name the child he’s expecting after his mistress
hold on I need a minute
Now, Adam has issued a statement on his Instagram story. “A lot is being said about me right now and I want to clear the air. I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner,” he wrote.
“I did not have an affair; nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period of my life. In certain instances it became inappropriate. I have addressed that and taken proactive steps to remedy this with my family,” Adam said.
“My wife and my family is all I care about in this world. To be this naïve and stupid enough to risk the only thing that truly matters to me was the greatest mistake I could ever make.”
“I will never make it again. I take full responsibility,” he said. “We will get through it. And we will get through it together.”