Nearly four years after a sexting scandal involving Adam Levine, Sumner Stroh has broken her silence, describing the period as an "absolute sh*tstorm" and a "traumatic" experience that deeply affected her and her family.
In 2022, Stroh publicly accused the Maroon 5 frontman of engaging in a year-long exchange of explicit messages while his wife, Behati Prinsloo, was pregnant with their third child. Levine admitted to having "crossed a line" but denied a full affair, while Stroh claimed she felt manipulated.
Now, the 26-year-old model-turned-singer is focusing on her music career and taking accountability for her role in the public fallout. "I hurt a lot of people, so I don't want to by any means say like, 'Oh, woe is me,'" Stroh told the Daily Mail. "I know it's a conversation that is stuck with me and I have to live with that, but I believe that people are more than their mistakes and more than their past."
Stroh acknowledged that some critics may view her current pursuit of music as an attempt to capitalize on the scandal. "I've already heard all of that," she stated, adding that she has learned to relinquish control over public perception. "All I can control is showing up authentically as myself."
Her new single, "Miss America," includes lyrics that reflect on her experiences. "'You can't wear me out' as I'm actively getting worn the f**k down and facing setback after setback," Stroh explained, noting that listening to her own music can be emotional.
The intense public scrutiny following the scandal pushed Stroh into a dark place, impacting her mental health and leading her to process shame, guilt, and childhood traumas. The situation also created fear for her family's safety, with reports of drones flying over her family's home. Stroh publicly apologized to Behati Prinsloo and her children in 2022.
Despite the difficult experiences, Stroh views the setbacks as pivotal to her development as an artist. "I have fking put blood, sweat, and tears into choosing myself and that's okay because we're all inherently flawed," she said. "I've been working my a off to separate myself from that and grow and learn. But also, I'm not going to sit here and say that nothing ever happened and that's just part of my story and that's something I have to live with."
Stroh has redefined success as her daily creative process rather than public reception. She also shared a lesson learned: "Don't kiss and tell," preferring to keep her current relationships private.
Meanwhile, Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo have reportedly been working to strengthen their marriage. An insider told the Daily Mail that their relationship is in a healthier place, with Levine making changes to keep the marriage intact. The couple was recently seen together in St. Tropez.