When Mariah Carey and Anderson .Paak strolled through Century City Mall on Thursday night holding hands, they weren’t exactly trying to blend in. The two showed up to a screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2 dressed like they’d just stepped off a red carpet—him in a full sparkly suit serving smooth-operator energy, her matching the glam in a shimmering dark outfit. Not your typical mall crowd vibe, and definitely not the kind of thing that goes unnoticed.
This sighting reignites dating speculation that first surfaced back in December 2024 when the two were spotted together in Aspen for the holidays. Since then, they’ve also been collaborating on music, which only adds fuel to the“are they or aren’t they”fire. But here’s where things get interesting: in the months between those Aspen sightings and now, Anderson was also stirring up romance rumors with Jeannie Mai. That little love triangle energy has folks wondering what exactly went down behind the scenes.
Neither Anderson nor Mariah has publicly confirmed anything about their relationship status, and honestly, that’s probably the smartest move in 2026. But when two A-list artists show up to a Thursday night movie date dressed like they’re attending the Met Gala, the pictures tend to do the talking. Whether this is a full-blown romance, a creative partnership that turned into something more, or just two stylish people who enjoy each other’s company—the chemistry on display suggests there’s definitely something worth watching here.
The real question hanging in the air: what does this mean for Jeannie Mai, and why do we always get these complicated love-triangle moments in celebrity life? Maybe some things are just meant to stay mysterious.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.