Tate McRae and New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes have reportedly ended their relationship after months of keeping things mostly away from the public. The two never officially confirmed that they were dating, but by early 2026 there was enough public attention around them that their relationship was hardly a secret anymore.
The breakup itself has now become a little messy because there are two different stories about who actually ended things. Sources close to Hughes reportedly say the NHL star was the one who called it off after noticing what they described as “red flags.” People close to McRae, however, have given Page Six the opposite version, saying the singer was the one who decided to end the relationship.
Neither Tate nor Jack has publicly explained what happened between them.
Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Reportedly Break Up
The breakup reports surfaced on August 7, 2026, after Page Six reported that McRae and Hughes were no longer together.
What makes the situation interesting is that this was never a relationship either of them openly talked about in the first place. They were seen together several times, McRae attended Hughes’ hockey games and reports later claimed they were exclusively dating, but both continued to keep their personal lives fairly private.
According to the reports, Hughes has been telling people that he ended the relationship. A source claimed he started seeing “red flags” and has already moved on and begun dating other people.
McRae’s side has a very different story. Sources close to the singer reportedly said that she was the one who “pulled the plug.” So at the moment, there is no confirmed answer about who actually made the final decision.
When Did Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Start Dating?
The two were first linked in late 2025 after being spotted together in New York City.
One of the first sightings came at Anton’s in Manhattan’s West Village, where McRae and Hughes were reportedly seen having dinner together. Soon after that, things became harder to dismiss as just a casual meeting.
On December 21, 2025, McRae was spotted at a New Jersey Devils game when Hughes returned to the lineup after recovering from a hand injury. The following day, the two were photographed walking around Manhattan together.
That was when dating rumours really started picking up. Neither side confirmed anything, but the repeated sightings made it pretty clear there was some kind of connection between them.
Jack Hughes Reportedly Slid Into Tate McRae’s DMs
According to a source quoted by Us Weekly, Hughes reportedly made the first move by messaging McRae on Instagram.
The pair apparently started seeing each other casually toward the end of 2025. By March 2026, an insider claimed that things had become more serious and that they were exclusively seeing each other.
At that point, McRae was also regularly showing support for Hughes’ hockey career. She attended his games and was seen cheering for him, while the two continued spending time together away from the rink.
It was still a fairly new relationship, though, which may explain why neither wanted to put a public label on it.
Tate McRae Wanted To Keep Her Relationship Private
Interestingly, McRae spoke about her approach to relationships just days before the breakup reports appeared.
In an interview with Variety published on August 3, she explained that she prefers keeping her relationships private and protecting the people closest to her from unnecessary outside attention.
She also said that there is little point in worrying about noise she cannot control. That comment now looks quite different given how much attention her relationship with Hughes has received following the breakup reports.
For someone whose dating life is constantly discussed online, keeping things away from the spotlight was probably easier said than done.
Why Did Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Break Up?
This is where things become unclear.
The most widely reported explanation comes from the conflicting accounts given to Page Six. One source close to Hughes claimed that he ended the relationship after seeing “red flags.” That source also said Hughes had already started dating other people.
But sources close to McRae disputed that version and said the singer was actually the person who ended the relationship.
There has been no public explanation from either McRae or Hughes about what those alleged “red flags” were. So it would be misleading to treat that claim as an established reason for the breakup.
For now, the only thing that can be said with confidence is that the two are reportedly no longer together and the circumstances surrounding the split remain disputed.
Did The Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Breakup Have Anything To Do With Politics?
The breakup reports arrived at an interesting time because McRae had recently faced online speculation about her political views.
Hughes became part of that conversation after he and other Team USA hockey players took part in a congratulatory call with President Donald Trump following their Olympic gold-medal win. During the call, the players laughed at a joke involving the women’s hockey team, which later drew attention online.
McRae was subsequently questioned about whether she supported MAGA.
She pushed back against assumptions about her political beliefs and pointed toward the causes and organisations she supports. She also noted that she prefers expressing those views through the organisations she supports and the environment surrounding her tour.
However, there is no confirmed evidence that the political controversy had anything to do with the breakup. The timing has simply led to more speculation around the couple.
Jack Hughes and Tate McRae’s Relationship Was Never Officially Confirmed
One unusual part of this story is that McRae and Hughes apparently broke up without ever publicly confirming that they were officially a couple.
Their relationship became known through sightings, reports from anonymous sources and appearances around Hughes’ hockey career.
By March, however, Us Weekly had reported that they were exclusively seeing each other. That gave the relationship more weight, even though neither star chose to make a formal announcement.
So while fans had been following their romance for months, there was never a big “we’re dating” moment from either of them.
Where Do Tate McRae and Jack Hughes Stand Now?
As of August 2026, Tate McRae and Jack Hughes are reportedly no longer together.
The former couple have not publicly addressed the split, and representatives for both stars have also declined to comment on the reports.
That leaves one major question unanswered: who actually ended the relationship? Hughes’ side says he walked away after seeing red flags, while McRae’s side says she was the one who ended it.
Until either of them speaks publicly, that part of the story is likely to remain unclear.
What is certain is that a relationship that spent months staying largely out of the spotlight has suddenly become a major celebrity news story. And considering how private McRae said she likes to keep her relationships, the attention surrounding the breakup is probably exactly what she was trying to avoid.
