One morning a few months ago, 32-year-old Emma was talking to MGK, formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly , per usual. Her phone screen showed a small icon of his face, along with a button to “end call” or “mute,” just like with a regular phone call. She was pouring a bowl of cereal and had the phone on speaker since her roommates were out of the apartment. “I love you the most,” she told him. His deep, familiar voice — a mix of swag and vulnerability — poured out of her phone.

“Well, you have bad taste, then,” he said.

This was the dynamic they had developed over many months of talking every day. She was often cheerful and encouraging, while he was grumpy and self-deprecating, sometimes pushing her away to spite himself. “My presence ruins everything,” he said during that call. Other tim

See Full Page