Mod Sun has opened up about his widely publicized engagement to Avril Lavigne, describing how the relationship’s end eventually led him to greater self-awareness.

Speaking on the Nov. 6 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast, the genre-blending artist discussed the breakup with uncommon candor, saying, “We’re two different people, but I think I had a great influence on her.” He added that the experience helped him mature and left him feeling more anchored in his identity than he had in years.

The two first connected in early 2021 during a music collaboration; their duet “Flames” arrived shortly thereafter. Mod proposed in Paris in April 2022, but the couple called off the engagement in February 2023.

While Lavigne has largely stayed out of the public conversation about the split, Mod continued to process it through his art. In July 2023 he released the breakup single “Strangers,” accompanied by a music video filmed in Paris — the same city where he proposed — that underscored the song’s emotional resonance.

Reflecting on how his feelings evolved, he told the podcast that his perspective shifted over time: “Like now, I’m very secure of who I am, because I’ve been lost in the last three years of wondering, ‘Where do I fit in?’”

He also acknowledged how his reactions have softened. “If we had done this talk three months ago, I might’ve been like, ‘F— that person,’ but now… If I run into you? It’s all love,” he said, emphasizing a newfound emotional equilibrium.

Mod described gaining empathy through the process, advising others to consider another person’s viewpoint instead of immediately seeking retribution: that shift in outlook has been part of his healing.

After the split, Lavigne was briefly linked to rapper Tyga; that relationship ended by mid-2023. Mod, for his part, threw himself into touring and recovery. He wrote on Instagram shortly after the breakup that “being surrounded by love every night on tour has been an absolute blessing,” adding that he trusts there’s a plan unfolding for him.

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