In January 2021, Avril Lavigne and Mod Sun, whose real name is Derek Smith, were brought together by the thing they love most – music. They joined forces in the studio shortly after Machine Gun Kelly introduced them.
At the time, Lavigne was taking a break from relationships as a result of all the heartbreak she had endured from two failed marriages with Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley (2006 to 2009) and Nickelback member Chad Kroeger (2013 to 2015).
“I was getting out of a big relationship, and for the first time in my life, I thought I should probably be single,” she previously told PEOPLE. “I got together with [Mod Sun] to write a song. We just clicked. I was like, ‘Should you be doing this?’ It was fun and exciting, and I decided, ‘F— it. Life’s short.’ I’m a Libra. I love love.”
The two artists came together to record a collaborative single titled “Flames,” a featured track on Mod Sun’s most recent album, Internet Killed the Rockstar.
“We linked up through just talking about music,” the rapper told Metro in February 2021. During the interview, he also confessed how honored he was when the Grammy Award nominee took a liking to his music.
“It’s hard to even say because it’s f–king Avril Lavigne but she was like, ‘I really like your song, I really like your music,’ and she was like, ‘Send me some other stuff that you’re working on’,” he added.
Lavigne later expressed how ironic it was that it was a heartbreak song that inspired their love story.
At first, they tried to ignore the connection and keep things professional, but that didn’t last too long because just a few months later, they were seen hanging out with Machine Gun Kelly and his partner Megan Fox on a double date. Then in September, Lavigne and Mod Sun made their red carpet debut at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.
Following the star-studded event, Mod Sun posted a few glamorous photos with the pop punk princess by his side and wrote, “Everything is a dream when I’m with her.”
Along with their budding romance, they continued to work on their music careers together. Mod Sun acted as a co-writer and a producer on several tracks of Lavigne’s seventh studio album, Love Sux, which dropped in February 2022. The project marked her first new collection of songs since 2019’s Head Over Water.
About a year later, Minnesota-born Mod Sun released his new album, God Save The Teen. Their romance was once again embedded into the music with tracks like “Avril’s Song” and a collaboration with Lavigne titled, “Shelter.”
During an interview with E! News, the musician discussed “Avril’s Song,” describing it as “dark and sweet at the same time.”
“I have found such a partner in this world to go through the chaos that life gives you. I have found that person. I’m with a real grown woman who has gone through it all 10 times over and she makes me a better person,” he said, explaining how much their relationship has positively impacted his life.
On March 27, 2022, the “Sk8er Boi” songstress and her boyfriend took the next step when they announced their engagement. Mod Sun popped the question with a custom-designed, heart-shaped ring during their romantic getaway to Paris, France.
“It was the most perfect, romantic proposal I could ever ask for. We were in Paris on a boat in the Seine River. We had a violin player, champagne and roses. It felt like time stood still, and it was just the two of us in the moment,” Lavigne exclusively shared with PEOPLE.
The couple took to social media to announce their engagement with scenic photos from the memorable moment.
Lavigne’s caption read, “Oui! Je t’aime pour toujours 🤍💍🥂Dimanche. 27. Mars. 2022.”
“Together forever til our days are done. I had a dream where I proposed in Paris,” he wrote via Instagram at the time. “You’re too beautiful for my words to describe. I grabbed your hand + took one last breath… [and] I said ‘will you marry me?’ + she said ‘yes’. I love you Avril ❤️,” Mod Sun gushed.
Things appeared to be smooth sailing until the couple seemingly called off the wedding less than a year after getting engaged.
PEOPLE reported the news after an insider revealed, “Avril and Mod Sun have been on and off for the past two months, but are no longer together as a couple.”
That being said, there have been some conflicting opinions shared regarding their current status. A rep for Mod Sun reportedly told the outlet, “They were together and engaged as of three days ago when Mod left for tour so if anything has changed that’s news to him.”
However, on Tuesday (Feb. 28), Mod Sun seemingly addressed the rumors through a statement in an Instagram post. While he didn’t directly mention his relationship with Lavigne, he did express feeling brokenhearted after a very recent shift in his life.
He posted a series of photos from his recent tour with a caption that read, “In 1 week my entire life completely changed…I just know there’s a plan for it all. I’ll keep my head up + always listen to my heart, even when it feels broken 💔 Being surrounded by love every night on tour has been an absolute blessing. I have the best friends in the entire world, thanks for always having my back. See you on stage.”
The pair was last seen together on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at a pre-Grammy event celebrating Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman in Los Angeles.
While the reason behind the breakup is still unknown, sources have claimed that neither of the artists have been unfaithful to each other.
