Tate McRae and NHL player Jack Hughes ignited fresh dating buzz after being spotted together at a New York City restaurant, prompting fans to question whether the singer and the hockey standout are more than friends. While the pair has not publicly addressed the speculation, a recent sighting has the internet talking.
Tate McRae & Jack Hughes Spotted At NYC Dinner
Rumors kicked off on November 21 when McRae and Hughes were seen dining at Anton’s in Manhattan, according to photos shared by the celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi. The account claimed that “the entire restaurant was staring,” and alleged Hughes “seemed nervous” when the two first sat down, appearing to look around as they got settled.
It’s unclear how long the duo stayed at the restaurant or whether they stopped elsewhere in the city, but the images were enough to send fans into detective mode across social media. At the time of writing, neither McRae nor Hughes has commented on the nature of their relationship, leaving the outing squarely in the rumor column for now.
Without official confirmation from either camp, the sighting remains exactly that: a sighting. Still, the context around McRae’s recent personal life — and her past connection to hockey — helps explain why the potential pairing has become such a talking point.
Recent Breakup Context With The Kid LAROI
McRae and The Kid LAROI ended their relationship earlier this year after reportedly dating for about a year, beginning around January 2024 and calling it quits over the summer. In July 2025, LAROI addressed online chatter following their split, emphasizing that there was no bad blood between them.
“Tate and I are on good terms,” he wrote in a text message screenshot shared with followers, adding, “And this just looks messy / whack.” He also stressed that he had “NOTHING to do” with critical posts aimed at McRae, clarifying, “I DO NOT co sign this behavior whatsoever.” His statement cooled some of the speculation, and both artists have since kept the details of their breakup private.
Given that timeline, McRae’s quiet dinner with Hughes naturally drew attention. Fans, already aware of her public profile and the scrutiny that accompanies it, have been careful to note the lack of confirmation while still keeping a close eye on any developments.
McRae’s Hockey Connection Goes Back Years
If McRae is spending time with another NHL player, it wouldn’t be unprecedented. The “Greedy” singer previously dated forward Cole Sillinger from 2021 to early 2023. Their meet-cute quickly made the rounds at the time: after Sillinger named McRae as his celebrity crush in an interview, mutual friends — including McRae’s brother — helped introduce them.
“He’s one of my brother’s friend’s friends so it all worked out,” McRae told Entertainment Tonight in 2022. She joked that she could “forever hold this” over Sillinger, teasing that she’d never let him live down naming her as his celebrity crush. The relationship eventually ended in 2023, but it left a small imprint on McRae’s creative output.
When McRae released the video for her breakout hit “Greedy,” the visuals leaned heavily into hockey imagery — a detail that didn’t go unnoticed by viewers. Many interpreted the rink-set concept as a winking nod to her hockey-playing ex, even as McRae kept the video’s narrative focused on performance and persona rather than autobiography.
What McRae Has Said About Breakups And Her Music
Despite the speculation that often follows her personal life, McRae has been clear about how she approaches songwriting and relationships. In a December 2023 conversation with Eliott King, she explained that her songs aren’t designed to take shots at former partners — and that her perspective is more introspective than fans might assume.
“I still have good relationships with my exes,” McRae said. “I’m not bashing them. Even the song ‘exes,’ it sounds like it’s a ‘diss your ex’ record, but it mostly is like dissing myself. It kind of talks about how bad I am in a relationship and just all the things that I do to sometimes self sabotage.”
That self-awareness has become part of McRae’s appeal as a pop star and songwriter: she turns highly specific experiences into widely relatable anthems, while also maintaining boundaries around her private life. It’s a balancing act that can be difficult when every public outing invites scrutiny, as this latest dinner sighting demonstrates.
Where Things Stand Now
For now, McRae and Hughes’ New York dinner remains a single data point — a notable one, but still just one. Without any comment from the pair, it’s premature to draw conclusions about their relationship status. What’s clear is that McRae’s fanbase is engaged, curious, and quick to pick up on patterns, especially when hockey reenters the picture.
If this turns out to be nothing more than a friendly meal, it wouldn’t be the first time two public figures shared a private evening that sparked chatter. If it becomes something more, expect both music and sports fans to keep watching. Until then, any narrative beyond the sighting itself stays unconfirmed.
Whether or not McRae and Hughes are dating, the moment underscores a familiar reality of celebrity life: one dinner can launch a week’s worth of conversation. McRae, for her part, has shown she can steer that attention back into her work — and that, historically, is where she’s most at home.
