Rumours of a new celebrity romance are swirling after pop star Tate McRae was spotted cheering from the stands at an NHL game for American ice hockey player Jack Hughes.
Rumours Ignited at Prudential Centre
Eagle-eyed fans noticed the 22-year-old 'Greedy' singer in the players' box at the Prudential Center in New Jersey this past Sunday night. Her attendance was particularly notable as it marked Hughes' first game back on the ice since November 12th. The 24-year-old New Jersey Devils centre had been sidelined for 18 games due to a finger injury.
Social media quickly lit up with posts about Tate's presence, with many speculating her support was a good luck charm. Hughes did indeed score a goal during the match, though his team ultimately fell 3-1 to the Buffalo Sabres. Adding more fuel to the speculative fire, Jack's brother, Vancouver Canucks player Quinn Hughes, 'liked' an Instagram post documenting Tate's attendance at the game.
A Pattern of Public Encounters
This sighting follows earlier reports from earlier this month that the pair were seen dining together in New York City's West Village. According to a source speaking to celebrity news outlet Deuxmoi, 'the entire restaurant was staring' at the pop star, while the athlete 'seemed nervous, like was looking around a lot when they first sat down.'
While Tate McRae is known to be an avid NHL fan and has been seen at numerous games over the years, the consistent link to Hughes specifically has set gossip columns alight. The rumours began circulating several weeks ago, shortly after the singer opened up about her split from fellow musician The Kid Laroi in July.
McRae's Candid Take on Public Scrutiny
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the rising star got candid about the intense scrutiny that followed her high-profile breakup. 'It was really scary and overwhelming,' she admitted. 'I didn't realize how much it would affect me, the public knowing my private life - because no one knows the full story of anything, ever.'
She expressed frustration at narratives being painted as 'worse than it is,' but acknowledged that songwriting is both her and her ex's method of expression. 'That's our art, that's our job. And once it's out there, it's not mine anymore,' she stated. Reflecting on the past year, Tate added, 'I feel I've aged 10 years in the past year.'
Neither Tate McRae nor Jack Hughes has publicly commented on the nature of their relationship. For now, fans and followers are left to piece together clues from social media interactions and public appearances.
