Is Mariah Carey moving on from estranged husband Nick Cannon with a new love?
The singer, as well as her kids, has been spotted in the company of Australian billionaire James Packer in the last couple of weeks. And the recent sighting of the rumored couple even involved the businessman's ex-wife Jodhi Meares.
Packer's first wife "posted what could only be described as an awkward snap of all three posing together on board Packer's yacht the Arctic P in Italy on Sunday," MailOnline said about her Instagram snap. "Superstar singer Mariah stands in the middle wearing a glittering blue bikini top underneath a black dress, giving an awkward smile as she wraps an arm around her new love and his ex-wife."
"Fashion designer Jodhi looks equally as uncomfortably, offering a serious look into the camera lens," the publication went on to describe. "But Packer looks pleased to have his old and new flames together, grinning widely for the shot."
Some might find this coupling unusual and unexpected, especially given that Packer was last linked to model Miranda Kerr and that the diva was reported to be dating director Brett Ratner only some months ago. Ratner had denied the rumor, saying that he and the "Touch My Body" singer were really just friends. Incidentally, he had directed some of Carey's videos in the past.
Similarly, the Packer-Kerr rumor was dismissed as untrue, with none of the parties admitting that the two shared a romantic bond.
And now, it appears that the billionaire and the singer are not against going public with their pairing, apparently with the blessing of Packer's former spouse.
However, this coupling has aroused suspicion from some observers.
"There is something truly odd about James Packer's latest reported romance," The Sydney Morning Herald's Andrew Hornery noted. "Not so much that it is allegedly with a world famous pop star in the shapely form of Mariah Carey, but rather that the once media shy casino mogul has been so accommodating for the world's media in having his photograph taken with the singer."
"The conspiracy theorists could suggest that Packer is engaging in some good old fashioned subterfuge - creating a distraction to the media so they don't pay any unwelcome attention on other aspects of his private life," he went on to write.
"It is no mere coincidence that Packer's great mate and business partner in his Hollywood movie production company RatPac is Brett Ratner, who just a few weeks ago was reportedly dating Carey," he added. "Ratner and Carey have inked a movie deal, which will see much of Packer's millions pouring into the project."
A business move or a fleeting romance? Tell us what you think!
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