If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen the "Greedy" singer whipping her hair across a stage or looking impossibly cool in a hockey jersey. Tate McRae is everywhere. But with that kind of meteoric rise comes the inevitable, sometimes nosy, deep dive into someone's personal life. Lately, the question is Tate McRae straight has been bouncing around comment sections like a pinball.
People are curious. It's natural.
Honestly, the fascination usually stems from a mix of her lyrics, her very public dating history, and her vocal support for the LGBTQ+ community. When you’re a 22-year-old pop star who calls her gay fans her "number ones," the internet is going to start speculating. But if you're looking for a simple box to check, the reality is a bit more nuanced than a single-word answer.
The Dating History That Everyone Tracks
Tate hasn’t exactly hidden who she’s been with. For years, her public romantic life has been exclusively linked to men. You might remember the long-term era with Jonny Hader, the cinematographer who worked on her "You Broke Me First" video. That was a serious, multi-year thing that ended in 2021 and inspired the devastating track "Feel Like Sh-t."
Then came the NHL era.
She dated Cole Sillinger, a center for the Columbus Blue Jackets, for about two years. It was very "high school sweetheart" energy, even though they were both rising stars in their respective fields. They split in early 2023, and yeah, the internet went into a tailspin trying to figure out if there was drama (there usually is).
Most recently, her relationship with The Kid LAROI dominated the headlines. They were the "it" couple of 2024—paparazzi shots at Giorgio Baldi, Instagram stories, and even a collaboration on her 2025 album So Close to What. However, as she confirmed in her January 2026 Rolling Stone cover story, they officially called it quits in June 2025.
Is Tate McRae Straight? Why Fans Are Asking
So, if she’s only ever dated guys publicly, why the question?
It’s mostly about the "vibe." In February 2025, Tate did an interview with Pride where she basically said her gay fans are her absolute favorites. She revealed that her entire creative team is gay. "That’s the only opinion I really want when I’m releasing music," she told them.
When an artist aligns themselves that closely with queer culture, fans often wonder if there’s a personal connection there. Some people see her "Miss Possessive" aesthetic—the baggy clothes, the hockey influence, the high-energy masculine/feminine dance blend—and project a certain identity onto her.
But here is the thing: Tate has never explicitly used a label like "bisexual" or "queer" for herself. To date, she has only publicly identified as having boyfriends. Does that mean she’s 100% straight? Only she knows that for sure. But based on every public statement and relationship she's had, she has lived her life as a straight woman who is a massive, vocal ally.
The Power of the "Gay Icon" Label
There is a long history of straight pop stars becoming icons in the queer community without being queer themselves. Think Cher. Think Britney.
Tate seems to be stepping into that role for Gen Z. She’s leaning into a "liberated, feminine, and bold" energy that resonates deeply with people who feel like outsiders. In that same Pride interview, she mentioned how lucky she feels to have her team’s "brutally honest advice."
She isn't just "queerbaiting"—a term people love to throw around. She's just surrounding herself with people she trusts, and most of those people happen to be gay.
What Really Happened With Kid LAROI
Since her split from the Australian rapper, the rumor mill has shifted. There were whispers of cheating and "management requests," but Tate shut that down pretty fast. In her latest interviews, she’s been open about how "scary and overwhelming" it was to have people dissecting her breakup.
She’s single now. Or, at least, she’s "single for now" as she navigates her Miss Possessive Tour.
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She’s focused on the music. Specifically, the "Tit for Tat" drama. If you listen to the lyrics, it’s a pretty sharp response to some of the stuff LAROI put out in his music. It’s that classic pop-star-breakup-via-songwriting thing that we all love to watch from a distance.
Why the Label Doesn't Always Matter
In 2026, the obsession with labeling every celebrity’s sexuality feels a bit dated. Tate is 22. She’s figuring things out. Whether she’s straight, queer, or something else she hasn’t put a name to yet, her music remains the primary way she communicates with the world.
She’s expressed that she wants to be "versatile." One day she’s writing a folk song, the next she’s singing about a sports car. That fluidity seems to apply to her whole life.
What We Know for Sure
To recap the facts without the fluff:
- Public Relationships: Jonny Hader (2019-2021), Cole Sillinger (2021-2023), The Kid LAROI (2024-2025).
- Current Status: Confirmed single as of late 2025/early 2026.
- Sexual Identity: She hasn't claimed a specific label, but her public history is straight.
- Allyship: Extremely active. Her creative team and core fanbase are heavily LGBTQ+.
The takeaway here isn't to force a label onto her. It's to see how she’s navigating fame. She’s sensitive, introverted, and trying to keep some parts of her life private while being one of the biggest names in music.
If you want to support her, look at the art. Watch the choreography. The "Is Tate McRae straight" debate will likely continue as long as she keeps making hits, but the answer is usually found in the music rather than the headlines.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're following her journey, keep an eye on her Miss Possessive tour dates through November 2026. Her January 2026 Rolling Stone interview is also the most candid she’s ever been about her private life, so it’s worth a read if you want the "unfiltered" version of her past year.