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You chew thoughtfully on your meat while you wait to get the words out. “And you drew the short straw on getting to talk to me about it today? Sucks to be you.”

She fixes you with a Look. Capital-L, her amber eyes finding your blue ones. “They don’t want to stress you out worse than however bad it already is. The difference is that I don’t care. So, how bad is it?”

“How bad is what?” you reply blandly, looking down at your beans like they are about to offer up the mysteries of the universe.

“Stop,” she demands. “Cut the shit, Ster. You’re acting like a kid.”

Nobody but Noemi would get away with treating you this way.

You wouldn’t be such a brat with anyone else, but you don’t really know why not.

Maybe this is the real you, the 30-year-old who sulks and avoids direct communication with people he loves.

Maybe you are actually a failure as an adult, and you just mask it really well.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” you reply finally. “It’s not a great situation. I’m doing the right things. I’m talking to a therapist. I’m letting my PR team handle it. I don’t know what you want from me.”

“What I want from you?” Noemi’s voice goes up an octave, along with her eyebrow.

Your sister is a remarkably beautiful woman, but her face gets scary when she’s upset.

Like now. “I just want to know if you’re all right.

Like, actually. Not whatever bullshit answer you would give a magazine or post on your social media.

What are you thinking? How are you going to handle this? ”

Sighing, you put the plate back down on the tabletop.

It’s only about halfway finished, but the food is getting stuck in your throat with the direction of the current conversation.

“It’s complicated, Noemi,” you say finally.

“What does being all right even mean? I’m still working.

I’m trying to enjoy the little downtime that I get.

I’m sleeping most nights. I go to the gym.

I spend time with my partner. Doesn’t that mean I’m doing all right ? ”

“What does Kai say?”

“What does Kai say about what ?” you echo, and, honestly, you aren’t even being obtuse.

“The whole situation.” She spreads her hands.

“Your reputation is getting slammed, Ster. I’ve seen people smashing your albums in parking lots.

Calling you a manipulator and a liar. I’ve even seen people on social media wishing your plane would crash.

I get that you’re an adult and more famous than anyone, but you’re also my little brother.

I’m worried sick about you. Please tell me that you have discussed this with your boyfriend.

I know that you’re not great with feelings… ”

“That’s not true!” you interject.

“I get it. You make millions of dollars singing about your feelings, right? But not this. Not everything that’s going on. Why haven’t you spoken with Kai about everything?”

You shake your head. “Come on, Noemi. It’s not like he’s oblivious to what’s going on. It’s not like anything is being kept from him. Anything he wants to know, he can just ask me. I’ve never hidden one fucking thing from Kaius.”

“He’s not going to ask you,” she said, frowning. Like she is saying something obvious. “That’s not in his nature. He’s waiting for you to open up. To come to him.”

All you can do is blink at her.

As long as you’ve been old enough to have awareness of this sort of thing, Noemi has always been…

different. She doesn’t refuse to leave the house, but she hates going out.

As soon as she gets somewhere, she makes an excuse to go home.

She doesn’t hide in her room and refuse to meet people, per se, but she’s incredibly shy and awkward…

beyond a normal amount for an introvert.

It’s why she didn’t finish college, despite the fact that everyone knows she dropped out to help you mail CDs to radio stations when you were just getting your career off the ground.

It’s why she moved back home after living with three of her friends for a few years.

One by one, they got married and started careers and families.

And Noemi? She just… didn’t. It’s fine, obviously.

You have enough money to support your family comfortably for ten lifetimes, even if they turn it all down, and your parents still have jobs.

One day, if they get old, or want to go somewhere else, you’ll do whatever your sister wants or needs.

But when did she get so wise ?

As if taking advantage of your silence, she continues doggedly. “You aren’t even defending yourself. It’s on all of your socials. People are mad that you haven’t made a statement. They want to hear your side. They don’t want to believe GoGo, but they also have nothing from you to go off of.”

“Maybe I don’t want to dignify that bullshit with a response.”

“ Maybe you ‘not dignifying’ it just means that you look guilty,” Noemi fires back.

It’s not exactly a novel concept; people on your team have introduced the same theory.

Everything inside you wants to stay mum regarding GoGo.

To hold all that ugliness inside and refuse to react.

Growing up, you always felt that he who blinks first, loses.

Let GoGo sling his arrows. You have nothing to defend, and nobody is owed a comment.

But, still… you haven’t considered the impact on your loved ones. On Mom and Dad watching Access Hollywood and seeing tabloid covers in the checkout line. On Noemi, fuming behind her laptop screen. On Kai.

“I’ll take it under consideration,” you say, finally. “Maybe I’ll give the team some talking points and let them craft a statement.”

The smile that breaks over her face is great. Bright and relieved.

“Thank you,” she says, obviously meaning it. “Now, finish that plate before it goes bad.”

You glance at the half-eaten food. “Eh. I don’t know. I think I lost my appetite.”

She tuts at you in a way that, if you closed your eyes, you could swear came straight from your mother’s mouth. “You’re getting too thin,” she says. “Nobody wants to see a bag of bones shaking his ass on stage. Besides, don’t you want Kai to have something to hold onto?”

Sighing, you pick up the plate. “Why does everyone feel the need to comment on my sex life?”

Noemi heads for the exit. “After Kai’s commercial, everyone’s thinking it, even if they don’t say it!” she calls cheerfully.

With one hand, you pick up your plate. With the other, you press a button on your phone and start dictating a voice memo.

***

STERLING brEAKS HIS SILENCE!

In a vulnerable and direct statement, the superstar begs the world for a little grace.

NASHVILLE: With an exclusive email sent to this publication, superstar Sterling Grayson finally tells his side of the story.

The singer, 30, has been embroiled in controversy after being publicly accused of fraud and slander by Grenville “GoGo” Heller, former teammate of Grayson’s partner, Kaius “The Train” Reinhart.

Heller alleges that Grayson set out to deliberately ruin his reputation and has even come out and accused Grayson and Reinhart of being the reason that Heller was cut from the Miami Cyclones.

For over two months, Grayson has kept silent on the issue, leading some fans to wonder whether the accusations have merit.

Grayson has seen a dip in chart positions for his latest album, mobs of angry protestors at public appearances, and a general negativity towards him on social media, where former “Graylings” have denounced their fandom and destroyed their merch and memorabilia.

Now, Grayson is clearing his name. A condition of publication was that his statement be released in its entirety, so click through to read it.

***

I want to sincerely apologize to those who have been confused or dismayed by my silence these past few months.

I have always been a discreet and private person, and I did not feel comfortable making a statement until recently, when the attacks against my good name became so ugly and painful that I knew I needed to say something.

The accusations made by GoGo Heller are unequivocally false.

Let me start by saying that. I never publicly accused GoGo of anything, nor do I harbor any ill will towards him.

I was not and am not well-acquainted with GoGo.

As the former teammate of my partner, I only socialized with GoGo on limited occasions, and always in a group.

As for Gabrielle Burgess, I hope she knows that I love her and have only ever wanted the best for her.

I denounce any and all claims that have materialized as a result of this unfortunate event.

As my fans know, I have always stood on the side of love.

I wish Gabi and GoGo nothing but happiness in their lives and their new marriage.

Speaking of my fans, I wanted to address the Grayling Nation, who have stood by me for so many years and shared both the highs and lows of my life through songs, concerts, and media.

Please don’t believe everything you read.

No matter what it might feel like sometimes, celebrities are not people you know personally.

Parasocial relationships with famous people are harmful to not only yourself, but to the people you idolize, because they can never hope to live up to your high expectations.

I would do anything for my fans, and love how engaged they are.

I have lived my life trying to be the kind of person they want me to be.

But keep in mind that nobody is perfect.

Conflicts happen, and personalities clash.

At the end of the day, it’s how kindly we treat one another that matters most.

Love and peace,

Sterling Grayson

***

Comments and mentions on @sterlinggrayson’s Instagram, late July 2025

@tessaexample: be so for real. you fucking suck.

@maya.sparky: Hmm. Gaslight GoGo and your fans much?

@111graylinggrl111: Thank you for speaking up, Ster. 3

@rangerdanger: lick the boot more, sis

@23mellowdrop: Ew. u actually fell for this?

@colleen__4__: “love and peace” when he’s ruining someone’s life

@itskaceyyyy: IF HE’S LYING WHY NOT SUE HIM? HUHHHHH

@ihearturmom: could this bitch be more privileged???

@layla.dimaggi: You notice how parasocial relationships are only toxic when they don’t benefit you? They seem great when they’re earning you $600 for concert tix.

@mrs__octopuss: GRAYLING FOR LIFE!

@rangerdanger: kys, honestly

@madlad273: I honestly can’t with the brainrotted Graytards

@valegzee: Can we not with slurs?

@madlad273: I regret nothing

@d0rawinz: I have never been so disappointed by someone in my entire life.