Joe Burrow’s offseason has already produced its usual mix of rumors, sightings, and speculation. The latest moment arrived after the Vanity Fair Oscars after party in Los Angeles, when the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was photographed leaving the event in an SUV alongside influencer Alix Earle, Kylie Jenner confidant Stassie Karanikolaou, and pop star Tate McRae.
One photo and a short video clip were enough to ignite a fresh round of dating chatter online. McRae’s presence in the group raised eyebrows in particular, partly because the Canadian singer is one of the biggest rising names in pop and partly because Burrow has quietly become one of the NFL’s most eligible bachelors.
So is Joe Burrow actually dating Tate McRae, or was this simply an Oscars after party exit that got read too deeply by the internet?
Joe Burrow And Tate McRae Spark Dating Rumors After Oscars Party Exit
Joe Burrow Parties With Alix Earle, Stassie Karanikolaou & Tate McRae After Oscars https://t.co/dwNzMngA0x pic.twitter.com/MPssdKqBMB
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 16, 2026
The scene itself was simple. Burrow attended the Vanity Fair Oscars after party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, one of the most photographed celebrity gatherings of the year. Later in the night he was seen leaving the event with Earle, Karanikolaou, and McRae as the group climbed into an SUV.
Burrow rode in the front passenger seat while the three women sat together in the back. The moment was captured by photographers and quickly circulated online, which is usually how these celebrity rumor cycles begin.
The Vanity Fair party is packed with athletes, musicians, influencers, actors, and media personalities, and many guests leave in shared rides organized by friends or security teams. Still, when a Super Bowl quarterback exits a party with a chart topping singer sitting a few feet away, speculation tends to follow.
Who Is Tate McRae And Why The Rumor Took Off
Tate McRae is not simply another celebrity spotted at an awards show after party. The Canadian singer has been one of the most visible pop stars of the last two years thanks to hit songs, arena tours, and a growing global fan base.
Her mix of pop success and social media visibility makes any appearance newsworthy. When fans saw her in the same vehicle as Burrow, the connection felt headline ready even though no clear interaction between the two was captured in the photos.
McRae has also spent time in high profile celebrity circles. That makes the Oscars setting less unusual than it might appear at first glance, but it also means her presence tends to amplify gossip whenever a famous athlete is nearby.
Joe Burrow Relationship History Keeps Fans Guessing
Burrow has kept most of his personal life quiet since entering the NFL, which only fuels curiosity whenever his name surfaces in celebrity rumor cycles. His last widely reported relationship was with model Olivia Ponton, though neither side ever treated the pairing as something public or long term.
Since then the Bengals quarterback has been spotted in social settings with a range of celebrities and influencers. Most recently he has been linked to Jessica Alba. None of those sightings have turned into confirmed relationships.
That pattern is part of the reason the McRae rumor spread quickly. When a star quarterback is single and appears in the same car as a major pop artist, the internet tends to connect dots whether they exist or not.
Is Joe Burrow Dating Tate McRae Or Was It Just A Party Exit
At this stage there is no confirmation that Burrow and McRae are dating. The images from the Oscars after party show them leaving the same event in the same vehicle, but they do not show the pair interacting in any clear romantic way.
That does not eliminate the possibility entirely. Celebrity relationships often start quietly, especially when both people are used to intense public attention. Shared social circles, mutual friends, and industry events are usually where those connections begin.
For now the simplest explanation is that the group left the party together and the internet did the rest. Still, the pairing of an NFL franchise quarterback and a global pop star is the kind of possibility that keeps rumor accounts busy.
If Burrow and McRae appear together again in the coming weeks, the conversation will only grow louder. Until then the Oscars after party moment sits in the category of celebrity sightings that raise questions without providing many answers.
