Recording artist and television personality Elijah Connor is set to release his memoir, Behind The Stare: The Price I Paid To Stand My Ground, on Feb. 10, 2026, through Penguin Light Publishing. The book offers a firsthand account of one of reality TV’s most talked-about moments, when Connor’s unflinching stare with judge Sean “Diddy” Combs on The Four: Battle for Stardom went viral, and the consequences that followed after he refused to back down.
In the memoir, Connor goes beyond the viral clip to explore the pressure, private conversations and behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped the performance and its aftermath. He candidly reflects on standing his ground in the face of one of the industry’s most influential figures and the professional and personal costs that came with it, providing context for a moment that captivated the public.
Rooted in his Detroit upbringing and influenced by his musical and spiritual family, including his connection as the younger cousin of Prince, Connor shares how he fought to maintain his identity and integrity in an industry often unaccommodating to artists who refuse to shrink. “This book is my truth,” Connor says. “I stood my ground when it mattered most—and I’m finally ready to tell what really happened.”
Behind The Stare positions Connor not only as a viral figure but as an artist and survivor, offering readers an unfiltered look at the experiences behind the headlines. Pre-orders are now available at ElijahConnorBook.com, with hardcover, eBook and a limited deluxe collector’s edition planned for release.
Pre-orders for Behind The Stare: The Price I Paid To Stand My Ground are
available now at ElijahConnorBook.com, with hardcover, eBook, and a limited deluxe
collector’s edition.
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