Sommer Ray is a Colorado-born fitness influencer and Instagram model who built a 26 million follower empire through workout videos and bikini modeling. Despite her fitness success, Ray has faced multiple controversies, including allegations of Machine Gun Kelly cheating, a cryptocurrency scandal, cultural appropriation claims, and public relationship drama, which generated headlines from 2018 through 2026.
Ray rose to fame on Vine before transitioning to Instagram and YouTube, where she shares fitness content and lifestyle updates. Her high-profile relationships and involvement in several scandals have kept her name in entertainment news for years.
Who Is Sommer Ray
Sommer Ray was born on September 15, 1996, in Colorado. Her mother, Shannon Ray, a competitive bodybuilder, introduced Sommer to fitness at an early age. Ray started competing in bodybuilding competitions at 16, including the NPC Colorado State Championships in 2015.
She gained initial fame on Vine before the platform shut down. Ray then moved to Instagram, where her fitness photos and workout videos attracted millions of followers. Her content focuses on gym routines, diet tips, and lifestyle posts.
Ray joined CloutGang, a group of popular YouTubers and influencers. She appeared on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out and launched her own YouTube channel with over 1.8 million subscribers. She also created a merchandise line and beauty brand called Imarais.
Her social media presence earned her an estimated net worth of $8 million as of 2024. Ray’s Instagram following grew to over 26 million, making her one of the top fitness influencers on the platform. She maintains active profiles on Instagram and Facebook, where she engages with her global fanbase.
Machine Gun Kelly Cheating Allegations
Ray’s most publicized controversy involved rapper Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker. The two dated for three months starting in March 2020.
Puerto Rico Filming Incident
Ray traveled to Puerto Rico while Kelly filmed the movie Midnight in the Switchgrass with actress Megan Fox. Ray waited in the hotel during filming and assumed nothing was happening between Kelly and Fox.
Ray later suspected Kelly was cheating when he excluded her from his Bloody Valentine music video shoot. Kelly told her that COVID restrictions prevented visitors, but Fox appeared as the love interest in the video.
Ray also noticed Kelly turned off his phone before sleeping. He claimed phone vibrations were harmful, but Ray later believed he was hiding calls from Fox. She revealed these details during an appearance on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast in March 2021.
According to Ray, she never had sex with Kelly because of her three-month rule. She requires partners to wait at least three months before intimacy. Kelly never passed this test before their relationship ended.
Twitter Breakup Drama
Kelly and Ray broke up in April 2020, on Kelly’s 30th birthday. Kelly tweeted that Ray picked up her belongings on his birthday, implying she ended the relationship.
Ray responded on Twitter, calling his version fake news. She claimed she brought him birthday gifts, not picked up her things. Kelly later apologized, admitting he should not have shared personal business publicly.
The Twitter exchange caused Ray to receive death threats for weeks from Kelly’s fans. She told Logan Paul the threats were intense and lasted for an extended period.
Ray stated she was not angry about the alleged cheating because they never slept together. She joked that she would probably cheat on Kelly with Megan Fox, too, if the situation were reversed.
Kelly and Fox confirmed their relationship in June 2020, shortly after the Bloody Valentine music video was released. Fox had separated from her husband Brian Austin Green, with whom she shares three children.
Other Relationship Controversies
Ray dated several other high-profile men, many relationships ending with public drama.
She dated Love Island USA contestant Bennett Sipes in 2018. The relationship moved quickly, with the couple living together. However, they split on bad terms within a year. Sipes was involved in a physical altercation outside the Delilah restaurant in West Hollywood with Younes Bendjima and others in March 2018.
Ray was linked to TikTok star Tayler Holder in May 2020. Holder posted videos with Ray that sparked dating rumors. By the end of May, Holder claimed they were just friends. The two unfollowed each other on Instagram shortly after.
Ray later accused Holder of continuing to contact her and her boyfriend, Jack Gilinsky, even while Holder was dating Charly Jordan. Holder denied these allegations during an appearance on the BFFs podcast.
She was also rumored to date actor Max Ehrich in October 2017. The two met through mutual friend Bella Thorne. Ray appeared in Ehrich’s music video for Can’t Forget Her Now. Their relationship lasted only a few months before ending without public explanation.
Ray was linked to RiceGum, a YouTuber with nearly 10 million subscribers, in 2017. Videos showed them together frequently, but both later confirmed they were just friends.
In July 2021, Ray appeared to date Cole Bennett, founder of Lyrical Lemonade. Bennett posted a cozy photo with Ray on his Instagram story, making the relationship public. The relationship status became unclear as Ray removed photos of himself from her social media.
As of 2025, Ray is dating Mark Estes, a TikTok creator from Montana Boyz. The relationship became public in September 2025, approximately one year after Estes split from Kristin Cavallari.
Save The Kids Cryptocurrency Scandal
Ray was involved in the Save the Kids cryptocurrency scandal in June 2021. FaZe Clan members, including FaZe Kay, FaZe Jarvis, FaZe Nikan, and FaZe Teeq,o promoted a cryptocurrency token called $KIDS.
The token was marketed as a charitable project to help children. Promoters claimed proceeds would support children’s charities. Multiple influencers, including Ray, promoted the token to their followers.
Investigators later revealed the project was a pump-and-dump scheme. The creators bought large amounts of tokens early, then sold them after the promotion drove up the price. This caused the token value to crash, leaving regular investors with worthless holdings.
YouTuber Coffeezilla investigated the scandal and exposed the scheme. The cryptocurrency lost nearly all its value within hours of launching. Investors lost thousands of dollars.
Ray faced criticism for promoting the token without proper disclosure. Many followers accused her of participating in the scam knowingly. She did not publicly address the controversy or state her involvement.
The scandal damaged the reputations of everyone involved. FaZe Clan suspended and removed several members over the incident. The cryptocurrency market saw increased scrutiny of influencer-promoted tokens following this case.
TikTok Cultural Appropriation Incident
In July 2020, Ray faced backlash for a TikTok video made with Tayler Holder and Jason Derulo. The group created a dance video using the song Lean like a Cholo by Down AKA Kilo.
The term “cholo” is commonly used within Latin American communities. Creator og_taco, who made the original TikTok sound, criticized the video. He stated it did not feel right seeing non-Latin creators use the song and dance.
Many TikTok users called the video disrespectful and accused the group of cultural appropriation. Comments criticized Ray, Holder, and Derulo for being insensitive to Latin culture.
Derulo responded directly to og_taco, asking for an explanation. He stated he would never exclude any race from dancing to his music. Derulo defended the video, saying there was nothing wrong with its content.
Ray did not address the controversy directly. The video remained on her TikTok account despite the criticism. The incident sparked broader discussions about cultural sensitivity on the platform.
Where Is Sommer Ray Now
Ray continues creating fitness content on Instagram and YouTube. Her social media following remains strong with over 26 million Instagram followers.
She launched her beauty brand Imarais and maintains her merchandise line. Ray posts workout videos, lifestyle content, and promotional material for her business ventures.
Ray confirmed her relationship with Mark Estes in September 2025. The couple posts content together on TikTok and Instagram. Estes, part of the Montana Boyz, previously dated Kristin Cavallari before meeting Ray.
She keeps her personal life more private now compared to previous years. Ray posts less about relationships and focuses more on fitness and business content.
Ray has not publicly addressed most past controversies. She moved forward with her career without issuing detailed statements about the cryptocurrency scandal or other incidents.
Her fitness brand and social media presence continue to generate revenue. Ray remains one of the top fitness influencers despite past controversies. She maintains her position in the influencer space through consistent content creation and business ventures.
