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Adam Levine, Ned Fulmer and the epidemic of cheating Hollywood husbands

October 11, 2022

It seems like no matter who you follow or what 'For You' page you are on, the only content has come from drama surrounding two men in the limelight, who have been deemed rather salacious: Adam Levine and Ned Fulmer of the Try Guys.

Adam Levine sparked chaos in the gossip columns due to his alleged infidelity. A DM he sent to his alleged mistress revealed that he asked if he could name the baby he is having with his wife – of eight years– after his mistress.

“I never really imagined him as the guy who would cheat and then also think it's acceptable to name a baby after his mistress," business sophomore Risa Bhutani said.

After the first DM got him in trouble, other women came forward with their own flirtatious DMs from the former Sexiest Man Alive. Problematic internet influencer, Tana Mongeau, came out with her own DM from him. Many Instagram models shared Levine sliding into their DMs with messages about their attractiveness and physique.

While many agree that following or liking Instagram models' pictures can't be considered cheating, others believe that Levine cannot escape being labeled a cheater due to the DMs, even if he never had a physical relationship with his alleged mistress.

“I think a DM is cheating," international relations junior Salina Voegtly said. "Its intent to cheat which is just as bad as cheating itself. If I got one of those DMS from him, first and foremost, I'd probably send them to his wife.”

However, some users online blamed the women in the situation, shaming them for not telling his wife or not engaging in conversation with him.

Voegtly understood these women because they allegedly heard from Levine that he and his wife were on the rocks.

“I think that society tends to blame women … I think it takes two to tango," Bhutani said. "It didn't really seem like the DMS were the women's fault. It's not their fault that he hit on them.”

While his words were deemed surprisingly cringe, people were not surprised by his actions compared to other men in the same situation.

“(Adam) is a rock star," Voegtly said. "He's probably done some dirty stuff. It's like, ‘Oh well, he cheated.’ If I had to make a bingo board of things I know about Adam Levine, I probably put it on. However, it's different with the Try Guys, especially with Ned. His entire brand was his wife, so I think it's more shocking for someone to completely flip.”

Over the same course of two weeks, news that Ned Fulmer, of Buzzfeed and Try Guys, was found to be cheating on his wife – and mother of two children – with someone he works with.

Molecular biology and biotechnology junior Phebe Jones said with the good-guy reputation the Try Guys have held for years, it was likely a hard realization for the group, to have no idea their friend led a secret life behind their back.

“I just think that they were shocked, probably just as much as we were," Jones said. "It takes a lot to have to be the person to own up to and apologize for other people's mistakes.”

The Try Guys held onto support from most fans with their quick response in firing Ned and releasing a statement on how upset they were. In this video, they were transparent about what videos Ned would still be in and when they would edit him out.

Voegtly said that the Try Guys made a good move by releasing a video before people's outrage fizzled out.

Bhutani explained that she liked that the actions were taken before people found out and that they were quick to put out a statement before the fallout was over – facing the problems head on.

The recent infidelity drama speaks to the status quo of men in Hollywood cheating on their wives and causes individuals to reflect on other cheating celebrities.

While cheating may seem like an issue surrounding the spotlight, Jones pointed out that it's just more highlighted when it's in public attention, with money and positions of power. She said it happens every day in regular society.

Jones even theorized that a lot of this could be used as media fuel, bringing back fame to forgotten names.

“I feel like (Levine's) music isn't as popular anymore and Maroon 5 is not coming out with as much stuff," Jones said. "There's always this extra influence to stay in the spotlight and that probably had something to do with it.”

The biggest issue, however, is still not resolved even when PR steps in and memes are made out of broken marriages. People still take issue with men being able to shift the blame to the women.

“There are people out there who are narrow-minded enough to think that women are at fault for this," Voegtly said. "There's a newer environment in our society and our social presences that we should be calling people out for us. We should not be protecting them.”

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