NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Singer Mariah Carey and Director Brett Ratner attend "The Interpreter" premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre April 19, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (2005 Getty Images)
The rumor mill went on overdrive over the weekend when Mariah Carey was spotted in the arms of “X-Men: The Last Stand” director Brett Ratner.
The singer and the director were photographed walking arm-in-arm (with another female friend) while shopping in St. Barts over the weekend during a joint birthday celebration, according to reports.
Their affectionate behavior fueled heavy rumors that Carey was moving on from her soon-to-be ex-husband, Nick Cannon.
But the filmmaker’s rep quickly tried to quash the rumors.
In a statement to People, Ratner’s rep called the speculation “ridiculous” and that “they have been best friends for a long time.”
Further adding water to the fire, photos of Ratner making out with another woman – on the same yacht he was spotted on with Carey – surfaced on Monday, according to TMZ.
Carey and Ratner have been friends for many years, having worked in the singer’s “I Still Believe” music video as well as her 1999’s “Heartbreaker” video. They also worked together for “Thank God I Found You,” “It’s Like That,” “We Belong Together,” “Touch my Body,” “Obsessed” and “H.A.T.E.U.”
The duo was also spotted last week, with Ratner sharing an Instagram post with Carey and Courtney Love.
If – and it’s a big IF – Carey is dating Ratner, it would be the singer’s first romantic relationship since ending her 6-year marriage to Cannon.
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