Nearly a decade after starring in one of Maroon 5’s most memorable music videos, Emily Ratajkowski is back in the spotlight — this time for a deeply personal essay about love, heartbreak, and starting over.
In a June 12 piece published by The Cut, the model and actress reflected on her divorce from film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard and the unexpected reality of dating as a single mother in New York City. Ratajkowski, 35, rose to mainstream fame after appearing as Adam Levine’s love interest in the 2012 video for Love Somebody, one of Maroon 5’s biggest hits from their album Overexposed.
From Music Video Star to Cultural Voice
Following that breakthrough, Ratajkowski became a household name when she appeared in Robin Thicke’s controversial Blurred Lines video the next year. But in her latest writing, she turns the lens inward, describing a period of sexual and emotional exploration that began after the birth of her son, Sylvester Apollo Bear, in 2021.
“I had never casually dated before,” Ratajkowski wrote. “But after my split, I decided to explore a new kind of woman.” She also revealed that her intimacy with Bear-McClard largely stopped after their son was born.
The essay’s cover image — a striking photograph of Ratajkowski breastfeeding while wearing an open black Gucci jacket, Gucci pants, and a Dior Homme glove — quickly went viral, sparking conversations about motherhood, sexuality, and public perception.
A New Chapter On and Off Screen
While Ratajkowski has kept her music video past close at hand — she’s often spoken fondly of working with Adam Levine and director Anthony Mandler — her focus has shifted toward writing, activism, and building a multifaceted career. Her debut essay collection, My Body, was published in 2021 to critical acclaim.
As for Maroon 5, the band continues to remain a fixture in pop culture. Though they have no major festival appearances currently scheduled for 2025, the group still tours regularly and released their eighth studio album, Jordi, in 2021. Ratajkowski’s connection to that era of the band remains a footnote in a much larger story of reinvention.
Where Is Maroon 5 Now?
While Ratajkowski charts her personal journey, Maroon 5 have kept a relatively low profile in recent months. After wrapping a Las Vegas residency in 2023, the band has not announced any new music for 2025, though frontman Adam Levine continues to serve as a coach on The Voice. The band’s catalog — including Songs About Jane, V, and singles like Girls Like You and Memories — continues to stream in the billions.
For now, the most talked-about Maroon 5 connection this June isn’t a new single or tour — it’s the woman who once danced alongside Levine in a rain-soaked loft, now redefining her own narrative on her own terms.
