Mod Sun Breaks Silence On Tough Part Of Avril Lavigne Split

The musician, born Derek Ryan Smith, and the “Sk8er Boi” hitmaker appeared to be the perfect match in pop-punk heaven before suddenly separating in February 2023. Surprisingly, Lavigne wasted no time moving on with rapper Tyga.

Mod Sun is no stranger to dating famous women, previously making headlines for his throuple romance with Disney alum Bella Thorne and internet personality Tana Mongeau. After the trio ended their union, he began a monogamous relationship with the actress.

During a recent appearance on Bunnie XO’s “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Mod Sun opened up about his separation from Lavigne and how he healed in the most unexpected way. He had his sights set on a wedding with the pop-punk star when he proposed to her in March 2022, but fate had other plans.

Mod Sun claimed he was totally blindsided by their breakup, especially Lavigne’s decision to go public with Tyga a month after their split. The hardest part for the musician was pouring his heart out on stage whenever he had to perform “Flames,” a song on which Lavigne was featured.

The entertainer explained that he did not want to deprive fans of the hit song while he was on tour, as it was his most famous track. As fate would have it, performing the emotional track night after night ended up becoming his path to healing, and he eventually overcame his heartache.

Mod Sun’s track record with love hasn’t been the best, with his exes seemingly having no problems moving on after their breakup. After Lavigne left him for Tyga in March 2023, the singer ended up finding love a year later with “Love Is Blind” star, Brittany Wisniewski.

They first sparked relationship rumors in November 2024 after they were photographed getting cozy at a Los Angeles bar after Mod Sun’s concert. A month later, the musician hinted at them being more than friends, claiming “things are great” when asked about their relationship.

But their love was not meant to be, with Wisniewski telling PEOPLE that her romance with Mod Sun had ended after five months in April 2025. In her words: “It was a fun time and I’m grateful for the experiences, but I’m in a new place now and ready for what’s next.”

Following news of Lavigne’s separation from Tyga after four months of dating, Mod Sun released a teaser for a new song. The Blast covered the story in June 2023, revealing that the singer dropped an emotional track on Instagram.

The video captured him lip-syncing to his latest song, “Strangers Again,” as he walked around the streets of Paris, the same place he proposed to Lavigne in 2022. The timing of the post raised eyebrows as it came days after his ex-fiancée’s split from Tyga.

The lyrics of the song also seemed to reference Mod Sun’s romance with Lavigne, as he sang about a woman who went from being a stranger to a lover and a stranger again. Fan echoed similar sentiments in the comments, assuring the musician he would find someone better than his ex.

Before his recent confessions about his separation from Lavigne, Mod Sun had credited fans for helping him overcome the pain of a broken heart. The Blast shared in April 2023 that he had thanked his loyal supporters for standing by his side.

Mod Sun expressed gratitude to fans while performing at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. He told concertgoers that they had saved his life and encouraged anyone going through a challenging time to never be afraid to seek help.

He reassured fans that all was well in his life, declaring that it was finally time for a new chapter. Mod Sun’s touching statement proved he was no longer dwelling on the past with his ex-fiancée, whom he once credited for making him a better person.