On Monday, Instagram model Sumner Stroh posted a video on TikTok that quickly went viral, in which the model and influencer claimed she had a year-long affair with the Maroon 5 frontman who is married to Victoria’s Secret model, Behati Prinsloo.
Now Ratajkowski, who recently filed for divorce from her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard following cheating claims, has shared her thoughts on the situation.
“I don’t understand why we continue to blame women for men’s mistakes, especially when you’re talking about 20-something-year-old women dealing with men in positions of power who are twice their age,” the supermodel said in a TikTok.
“The power dynamic is so skewed, it’s ridiculous. It’s predatory. It’s manipulative,” she continued.
There is no evidence or suggestion that the relationship between Stroh and Levine was in any way manipulative or predatory, with all actions appearing to be consensual.
Ratajkowski said that the person in the relationship is the one who has a responsibility to remain loyal to their partner, not the other woman, or mistress.
“If you’re the one in a relationship, you are the one who’s obligated to be loyal,” she added.
In a second video, the Inamorata founder continued: “I think a huge problem in our culture right now is that we just say, ‘Oh, men are monsters, they’re terrible, they’re horrible.’
“We don’t hold them accountable and then we blame other women.
“We ask women to adjust their behavior instead of just saying men need to change their behavior. It’s sexism. It’s classic misogyny.”
On Tuesday, following a media storm, Levine finally addressed the allegations that he had an affair with Stroh, and admitted that he “crossed the line.”
“A lot is being said about me right now and I want to clear the air,” the 43-year-old singer wrote on an Instagram story. “I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner.
“I did not have an affair, nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period in my life. In certain instances it became inappropriate; I have addressed that and taken proactive steps to remedy this with my family,” he wrote.
“My wife and my family is all I care about in this world. To be this naive 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. We will get through it. And we will get through it together,” Levine said.
In her original post, Stroh amassed millions of views when she revealed: “I was having an affair with a man who’s married to a Victoria’s Secret model. At the time, I was young, I was naive, and, I mean quite frankly, I feel exploited.”
The bombshell was posted just a few days after Levine’s wife of eight years, Prinsloo, shared photos on Instagram confirming that the couple is expecting their third child together.
The 23-year-old has since responded to Levine’s response, writing on Instagram: “Someone get this man a dictionary.”