Adele had a lot of drama in February and March of this year. As we discussed at the time, she really seemed unhappy, and like she was coming to terms with something about herself or her relationship. Part of that is just projection on my part, it’s just my read on her situation, based on the available gossip and a vibe. My vibe was that she didn’t actually want to be in Las Vegas all the time for her big-money residency, and when the residency fell apart, she went back to LA to be with Rich Paul and work on their relationship. Then she turned up in London to attend the BRIT Awards and chat with Graham Norton on his show. In both appearances, Adele wore a giant pear-shaped diamond ring on her left ring-finger, which led people to believe she was engaged. She played coy (sort of) but she definitely left the impression that she was engaged to Rich. I also got the impression that he wasn’t happy about that.
All of which leads me to this week’s Adele gossip. Rich apparently wasn’t in LA for Adele’s 34th birthday, and they’ve been pretty quiet (as a couple) for months. “Sources” told People Magazine that they’re still dating, but it definitely doesn’t sound like they’re planning a future together.
Adele and Rich Paul are still going strong. The “Hello” singer and the sports agent sparked split rumors last week after he was spotted in Miami with client LeBron James on her 34th birthday, but multiple sources tell PEOPLE they’re still together.
An insider also confirms to PEOPLE that the singer and Paul — who have remained out of the public eye for the last few months — dined at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch in Napa Valley on Sunday.
“Adele is still seeing Rich. They are both very busy though,” says one source. “She is working on her residency and Rich is busy with his clients. They see each other when they can.”
A rep for Adele has not commented.
On the night of her birthday, Paul, 40, attended the star-studded Carbone Beach party (in partnership with The h.wood Group and Sports Illustrated) with James. “Rich and LeBron were at the Carbone private party on the beach celebrating Formula 1 weekend in Miami,” an attendee tells PEOPLE about the party. The Grammy winner — who was not in attendance — shared a post that day on social media commemorating her birthday.
Again, my gut tells me that Rich wasn’t happy that Adele went to London and paraded around with a big diamond on her ring finger. He was probably getting calls from friends and family, asking him why he didn’t say anything to them. Adele is so used to being the drama in her relationships and I think it came back to bite her on the ass this time. Anyway, it sounds like Rich and Adele are close to breaking up, just my opinion.
Photos courtesy of Instagram and Avalon Red.
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- Adele (aka Adele Adkins) attends the BRIT Awards 2022 at O2 Arena, London, England, UK on Tuesday 8 February 2022.,Image: 660707332, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit agency and photographer as Justin Ng/Retna/Avalon when publishing., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng / Avalon
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- ***EDITORIAL USE ONLY*** Adele attends The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 in London, England. Tuesday 8th February 2022.(EDITORIAL USE ONLY). -,Image: 660863949, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NORESTRICTIONS, Model Release: no, Pictured: The BRIT Awards 2022, Credit line: JW / Bang Showbiz / Avalon
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- ***EDITORIAL USE ONLY*** Adele attends The BRIT Awards 2022 at The O2 in London, England. Tuesday 8th February 2022.(EDITORIAL USE ONLY). -,Image: 660863949, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NORESTRICTIONS, Model Release: no, Pictured: The BRIT Awards 2022, Credit line: JW / Bang Showbiz / Avalon
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- London, UNITED KINGDOM – Adele attends the Brit Awards 2022 in London. Pictured: Adele BACKGRID USA 8 FEBRUARY 2022 BYLINE MUST READ: Scott Garfitt/Timms / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- London, UNITED KINGDOM – Adele attends the Brit Awards 2022 in London. Pictured: Adele BACKGRID USA 8 FEBRUARY 2022 BYLINE MUST READ: Scott Garfitt/Timms / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Whenever I see his name I read it as a modifier.. like, she isn’t dating any old Paul, she’s dating Rich Paul.
Adele seems dramatic and a bit insecure/immature. Enjoy her music, but she seems like a lot. I hope this works out for the best for them both.
This is where I think we can point to cultural differences. I don’t know about Brits, but I can speak pretty authoritatively on BIPOC men. They like to keep their sh*t locked down. It’s one thing to be in a high profile relationship, it’s another thing to have your SO go on television and tell people she wants to have a baby in the next year. There is a reason that he has been in sports entertainment for years and no one knew of him other than those who were involved in his industry. He. Does. Not. Want. To. Be. Visible. Adele, hunny, you gotta adjust. If you want to be over the top, get with an actor or another musician. Just my two cents.
Or maybe she needs to move on or he needs to understand what it is to date a celebrity?
He’s around Celebrities all the time. He knows what’s up. Again, just my opinion. I think Kaiser rightly points out that she’s dramatic and he’s not here for it. And to concede to your point, she may need to move on, too.
Like Nicole said, he’s been around celebrities for ages. Not all celebs are the same. He dated Tobey McGuire’s ex-wife before Adele. Very rich, well connected and somewhat known, but a completely different vibe from someone like Adele.
And understanding that Adele used her relationship for promo & deflection and being comfortable with it, are two different pairs of shoes as well.
@nicole what about Jada Pinkett Smith? She is always revealing intimate details of her relationship
Jada is her own animal and also a celebrity. And I will say that Will didn’t like putting their stuff on blast either, but you could argue that Red Table Talks is thriving because she did. Will and Jada are both Celebrities, where as this guy was powerful but not exactly a household name. Not an equal comparison.
1) Jada is Will’s wife – not “just” gf
2) They are both entertainers
i.e. front of camera folks.
I don’t think you have to be BIPOC to be annoyed that your GF wore a ring and then was coy about it, and saying they want to have kids ASAP, if you haven’t already had those conversations/actually proposed. Both of those moves were totally messed up regardless of culture
I should have amended this to say American cultural differences. But again, just MY opinion as a Black woman related to many Black men. I’m speaking to my cultural identity. I can’t speak to others.
I enjoy Adele. She seems like a fun, kind and loving human but also like a lot? She seems like she may be needy and clingy and I get it because I used to be that way in my younger years. When you find someone you think you connect with you want them so badly. I hope she finds happiness with herself so that she can truly enjoy a romantic relationship/partnership.
I agree, I think she’d be a fun friend, but as a romantic partner, she might be a lot. She’s also hugely famous and everyone is always up in her business, so that’s got to make it hard too.
He’s a pretty high powered sports agent, right? Maybe he’s busy with his own career too and not always available for every event and all.
One of my closest friend is like her and honestly, it’s a lot, she still doesn’t understand why every relationship crashes and burns, even when I tell her. Let’s hope she can learn from it, as Adele will maybe…
Oh Adele. She has eyebrow cognitive dissonance.
Adele, know your worth.
I think she went Stage 5 clinger on him and he was like No Maam.
Came here to say this – Stage 5 post-divorce clinger is NOT a good look.
Rich and Adele were in Napa a few days before her birthday. They were together on her birthday before flying to Miami. He had the “Adele 34” balloons at his house. People magazine used Deuxmoi as a source.
Going straight from marriage into a serious relationship seems like a mistake to me. Maybe she and Rich were just meant to be a hot and heavy fling or shorter term relationship so she can get some confidence back or just have fun. I think she fell too hard and too soon but I guess we will get music out of it. I wish her happiness and stability but I do not think Rich is her answer for that long term
@Michael, agreed. And, those songs will sound a lot like all of her other songs. Not a fan.
Adele was in another relationship before getting with Rich Paul.
He seems like a very chill guy and Adele (though vastly talented) has a big personality, shall we say (that’s how our kindergarten teachers around here describe the extroverted or attention-seeking kids). Neither is wrong, or bad, but maybe the fit isn’t great?
I think it’s already over and she’s (or her publicist is) trying hard to save face.
Maybe you are right!