Adam Levine, the Maroon 5 frontman and longtime coach on The Voice, recently shared a story that still gets under his skin—a hilarious yet costly prank orchestrated by his friend and former co-coach Blake Shelton. During a July 3, 2025, appearance on the Hot Ones podcast, Levine recounted how Shelton tricked him into spending $5,000 on a supposed “teacup pig” for his then-girlfriend, now-wife, Behati Prinsloo. The pig, which turned out to be no miniature pet, grew to a whopping 400 pounds, leaving Levine both out of pocket and exasperated. “He tricked me into buying a ‘teacup pig’ for $5,000,” Levine said, laughing but clearly frustrated. “It still bugs me!” This tale of friendly deception, widely shared on platforms like X, highlights the playful rivalry between two of music’s biggest stars and serves as a cautionary tale about trusting a cowboy with a pig.
A Prank Born on The Voice
Levine and Shelton’s friendship, forged over 16 seasons as coaches on The Voice, is legendary for its mix of camaraderie and relentless teasing. The two, who served together from the show’s debut in 2011 until Levine’s departure in 2019, became known for their on-screen banter, throwing jabs and pulling pranks that kept audiences entertained. Levine, the pop-rock heartthrob, and Shelton, the country music titan, often targeted each other with good-natured shade, from mocking each other’s music to playful insults about their coaching skills. But it was off-screen, during the early days of Levine’s relationship with model Behati Prinsloo, that Shelton pulled off what Levine calls “one of his best pranks.”
The story began when Prinsloo, then Levine’s new girlfriend, expressed a desire for a teacup pig—a trendy pet marketed as a tiny, adorable companion that supposedly stays small. Unfamiliar with the concept, Levine turned to Shelton, who owns a ranch in Oklahoma and is presumed to have expertise in all things farm-related. “My now-wife, then-brand-new girlfriend, said she really wanted a teacup pig,” Levine told Hot Ones host Sean Evans. “And I didn’t know what that was, but of course the first person I would ask would be Blake. So I asked, ‘What’s a teacup pig?’ He’s like, ‘I’ll get you a teacup pig. Yeah, give me five grand.’” Trusting his friend, Levine handed over $5,000, expecting a pint-sized pet that would win Prinsloo’s heart.
A Pig That Kept Growing
Shelton delivered a piglet, which Levine proudly presented to Prinsloo. At first, the couple was charmed by the tiny creature, envisioning it as a quirky addition to their Los Angeles home. But the dream of pig parenting quickly soured. “They scream and squeal if you don’t pay attention to them, and they scream and squeal if you do,” Levine recalled, grimacing through a bite of spicy wings. The pig’s constant noise and demanding nature overwhelmed the couple, who were unprepared for the realities of pet ownership. After just three weeks, they decided it wasn’t for them and rehomed the animal to a young girl on a farm, asking only for periodic photo updates to ensure it was thriving.
Six months later, the new owner sent pictures that left Levine and Prinsloo stunned. “We’re like, ‘Send us pictures! We can’t wait to not be responsible for this animal anymore!’” Levine said. “She sends us a picture, and the pig is like 400 pounds. I’m like, ‘Dude, what if this animal had grown to be this big in my house?!’” The revelation hit hard: Shelton had sold them a regular potbellied pig, not a teacup pig, which, as Levine later learned, isn’t even a real breed. According to PETA and animal welfare experts, “teacup pigs” are often potbellied pigs that are underfed or falsely advertised as miniature, only to grow to hundreds of pounds when properly cared for.
Furious but amused, Levine confronted Shelton. “I’m just like, ‘Blake, bro, $5,000 for a pig that wasn’t a micro pig?’” he recounted. Shelton’s response was classic: “He’s like, ‘You’re an idiot! There’s no such thing as f—ing teacup pigs, you dumbass!’” To add insult to injury, Shelton refused to refund the $5,000, sealing the prank as one of his finest. “He’s like, ‘No!’” Levine said, shaking his head. “That was a pretty good prank that he played on me.” The story, shared on Hot Ones, sparked laughter and disbelief, with Evans joking that Shelton’s rancher credentials made him the perfect conman for the scheme.
A Rivalry Rooted in Friendship
The teacup pig prank is a quintessential example of the Levine-Shelton dynamic, which has captivated The Voice fans for years. Their rivalry, marked by verbal sparring and playful jabs, was a highlight of the show’s early seasons. During an April 2025 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Levine reflected on their time together, admitting they once had to set boundaries to avoid going “too far” with their teasing. “We were in each other’s trailers, like, ‘Hey, is there ever too far?’” he said, laughing. Despite the occasional sting, their pranks stemmed from mutual respect and a bond forged through shared fame. “It’s all love,” Levine added. “Blake’s like my brother, even if he’s a jerk sometimes.”
Shelton, who left The Voice after season 23 in 2023, has a history of trolling his co-coaches, from shading Kelly Clarkson to poking fun at John Legend. But his rivalry with Levine, who returned for season 27 in 2025, remains unmatched. Fans on X lit up with reactions to the pig story, with one user posting, “Blake Shelton scamming Adam Levine for $5,000 over a fake teacup pig is peak Voice chaos. I miss these two!” Another wrote, “Adam’s still mad about that pig, but you know he’d fall for it again. Blake’s too good.” The story has fueled nostalgia for the duo’s on-screen chemistry, with some calling for Shelton to make a cameo on Levine’s current season.
A Cautionary Tale and a Lasting Laugh
Levine’s frustration with the prank is tempered by his sense of humor, but he didn’t hold back on advice for others. “Please don’t get a pig,” he told Hot Ones viewers, his tone half-serious. “They’re not what you think.” The experience taught him a lesson about trusting Shelton’s “expertise” and sparked a broader conversation about the ethics of “teacup pig” marketing. Animal welfare organizations like PETA have long warned that these animals are often misrepresented, leading to abandonment when they grow too large for urban homes. Levine’s story, while funny, underscores the importance of researching exotic pets before buying.
For Prinsloo, now married to Levine since 2014 and mother to their three children—Dusty Rose, 8, Gio Grace, 6, and a son born in 2023—the pig saga is a fond memory. She hasn’t commented publicly on the prank, but sources close to the couple say she laughed it off, appreciating Shelton’s audacity. The couple’s decision to rehome the pig to a farm ensured it lived a healthy life, and the photos of the 400-pound hog have become a running joke in their household. “Behati still teases me about it,” Levine admitted on Hot Ones. “She’s like, ‘You really thought that pig was staying tiny?’”
A Legacy of Shenanigans
The teacup pig prank has cemented its place in the lore of Levine and Shelton’s friendship, joining other tales of their Voice antics. From Shelton’s fake country accent impressions to Levine’s jabs at Shelton’s cowboy boots, their rivalry has always been rooted in affection. “It strengthened our bond,” Levine said of their prank wars during a 2025 press conference for The Voice. “Blake’s got a big heart, even if he’s a total conman.” The story has also inspired fans to share their own pet mishaps on X, with one user posting, “Adam Levine’s pig story reminds me of the time I bought a ‘mini’ rabbit that turned into a giant. Never trust a cute pet ad!”
As Levine continues coaching on The Voice season 27, alongside new rival Kelsea Ballerini, fans miss the dynamic he shared with Shelton, who is now producing CBS’s The Road with Taylor Sheridan. The pig prank, however, keeps their legacy alive, with media outlets like Entertainment Weekly and NBC calling it “legendary.” For Levine, the $5,000 loss stings, but the laughter it’s sparked is priceless. “I’m still frustrated,” he told Evans, grinning. “But you gotta hand it to Blake—he got me good.”
