Mariah Carey and Anderson .Paak first ignited dating rumors last year and have only fueled speculation since, especially after the record producer joined Mariah onstage to accept the prestigious Icon Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in March 2025. Fans are curious about the rumored couple and if they were really dating.

When Were Anderson Paak and Mariah Carey 1st Spotted Together?

The “We Belong Together” singer and “Leave the Door Open” hitmaker were first spotted together at celebrity hotspot Catch Steak in Aspen, Colorado, in December 2024. The duo were clearly comfortable together as they were spotted holding hands while walking into the restaurant and Anderson was photographed holding the door open for Mariah as they entered.

In the photos, Anderson’s arms seemed to be wrapped around Mariah’s as they walked. However, sources at the time told TMZ that they were not a couple and were simply working on new music together.

A couple of days later, the pair added more fuel to the dating rumors when they were spotted holding hands at Duemani restaurant with friends at dinner.

According to TMZ, Anderson was seen kissing the “Touch My Body” singer’s hand during dinner. Sources told the outlet that the two were “very touchy-feely” throughout the evening. In photos, the pair appears close, with Mariah at one point resting her hand on Anderson’s chest.

Are Mariah Carey and Anderson .Paak Dating?

Although Mariah and Anderson have yet to confirm their relationship, he joined her while she accepted the prestigious Icon Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Awards in March 2025.

Fans noticed the two stars holding hands in the audience, with Anderson helping the 5-time Grammy winner onstage to accept her award. In addition, the cameras cut to Anderson throughout Mariah’s acceptance speech.

This was the first time the rumored couple had been publicly seen together since their dinner outings in 2024.

Who Were Mariah Carey and Anderson .Paak Last Romantically Linked to?

In Touch exclusively reported in January 2025 that Anderson was currently in the process of finalizing his divorce from Jaylyn Chang, whom he married in November 2010. Anderson, who shares two children, Soul and Shine, with his ex, filed for divorce on January 12, 2024, and listed “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. Anderson asked the court to award him joint legal and physical custody of their children. He also asked that child visitation be awarded to both parties.

He asked that spousal support be awarded to Jaylyn for “no more than one-half the length of marriage, if any.” Anderson’s petition seemingly asked that any request for further support be terminated. The musician asked the court to determine the issues of child and spousal support — along with the division of assets. Anderson’s petition made a note regarding community property.

He said, “The full nature and extent of community and/or quasi-community property assets and debts are not presently known. When same has been ascertained [Anderson] will either seek leave to amend this petition or otherwise include same in his preliminary and/or final declaration of disclosure.”

As for Mariah, she broke up with longtime boyfriend Bryan Tanaka in late 2023. The former couple had been together for seven years.