Model-turned-singer Sumner Stroh has broken her silence about the intense public scrutiny and personal turmoil following her involvement in a sexting scandal with Adam Levine nearly four years ago. Describing the period as an “absolute sh*tstorm,” the 26-year-old reflected on the emotional toll the events took, emphasizing her desire to move forward and be defined by more than past mistakes.

Breaking Her Silence on the Scandal

In 2022, Stroh publicly accused the Maroon 5 frontman of engaging in a year-long exchange of intimate messages while his wife, Behati Prinsloo, was pregnant with their third child. While Levine admitted to having “crossed a line,” he denied the existence of a full-blown affair. Stroh claimed she felt manipulated by the musician but has since expressed a desire to take accountability for her role in the situation.

“I don’t want to sound like a victim,” Stroh stated in a recent interview. “I hurt a lot of people, so I don’t want to by any means say like, ‘Oh, woe is me.’ 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.”

The intense public attention, which Stroh described as “traumatic,” led to a period of introspection. “The bandwagon effect and the whole cancelation of it all, it really gave me time to look inward and process that shame, process that guilt, process even childhood traumas,” she explained.

Pursuing a Music Career Amidst Scrutiny

Stroh is now channeling her experiences into a burgeoning music career, seeking to establish herself as an artist independent of the scandal. She acknowledged that some might view her career pursuit as an attempt to capitalize on the notoriety, but she remains unfazed by such criticism.

“I’ve already heard all of that,” Stroh commented. “I think that I’ve had to relinquish control of what other people think and what they’re going to say. Because at the end of the day, I can’t control that. All I can control is showing up authentically as myself.” She added that she realized she had a choice: either pursue her passion and face continued public judgment, or live in fear, which she deemed a “much more miserable existence.”

Even her music reflects her journey. Her new single, “Miss America,” features lyrics like “I don’t even need to wear a crown / Can’t wear me out.” Stroh explained the line, “‘You can’t wear me out’ as I’m actively getting worn the f**k down and facing setback after setback.” She admitted that listening to her own music can be an emotional experience, sometimes bringing her to tears.

Impact on Family and Personal Growth

The fallout from the scandal extended beyond Stroh herself, significantly impacting her family. Having moved from Texas to Los Angeles with aspirations of joining a girl group, the public attention led to extreme measures, including drones flying over her family’s home. “The drones flying over my family’s home… that affected my entire family,” Stroh shared. “So that physical safety aspect, for not myself, but for my family was something that was really hard, not for just me, but also my family.”

Stroh also expressed remorse for the impact on Behati Prinsloo and her children, having publicly apologized on TikTok in 2022. “I’m not the one getting hurt in this. It’s Behati and her children. And for that, I’m so, so sorry,” she said at the time.

Despite the profound difficulties, Stroh views these challenging experiences as “pivotal to becoming the artist” she is today. She has dedicated herself to personal growth, stating, “I have f**king put blood, sweat, and tears into choosing myself and that’s okay because we’re all inherently flawed. 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.”

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

The scandal has reshaped Stroh’s perspective on success. Her definition has shifted from public reception to the daily act of creation. “My definition of success is what I’m doing every day and that’s creating,” she stated.

Another key lesson learned is the importance of privacy in personal relationships. “Don’t kiss and tell,” she advised. While she continues to date within her industry in Los Angeles, she prefers to keep these aspects of her life private.

Meanwhile, Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo appear to be navigating their relationship post-scandal. Recent reports and photographs showed the couple together, seemingly reaffirming their bond ahead of their 12th wedding anniversary. While Prinsloo has not publicly addressed the situation, sources suggest their relationship has improved, with Levine reportedly making efforts to strengthen the marriage.

Stroh’s journey underscores a commitment to personal accountability and artistic expression, aiming to build a future defined by her music and resilience rather than a past controversy.