Adele has finally confirmed the engagement rumors surrounding her relationship with sports executive Rich Paul! During her concert in Munich on August 9, 2024, a fan asked the singer if she would marry them. Adele humorously responded, “I can’t marry you, I’m already getting married,” while waving her left hand, according to a video shared on social media. Although she wasn’t wearing a visible ring during the concert, just a month prior, Adele had been spotted with a pear-shaped diamond on her ring finger during an outing with Paul in London.
The confirmation came after months of speculation about their relationship. In an interview with Elle in August 2022, Adele had previously opened up about her deep feelings for Paul, saying, “I’ve never been in love like this… I’m obsessed with him.” The two first sparked dating rumors in July 2021 when they were seen courtside at an NBA Finals game. They made their relationship Instagram official in September 2021, though Adele later revealed in an interview with Vogue that they had actually met years before at a party. She recalled that while a bit drunk, she had jokingly approached Paul saying, “Do you want to sign me? I’m an athlete now.”
Adele has also spoken highly of Paul in interviews, especially in her November 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview during her CBS special Adele One Night Only. She described Paul as “hilarious” and “very, very smart,” noting that their relationship allowed her to truly love herself and be open to loving and being loved in return.
Engagement rumors had been swirling around the couple for months, especially after Adele wore a large diamond ring at the BRIT Awards in February 2022. When asked about the ring’s significance, she coyly responded on The Graham Norton Show, “As if I would ever tell anyone if I was or wasn’t [engaged],” though she did acknowledge how lovely the ring was.
In the same interview with Elle, Adele revealed that she was open to marriage and wanted more children. She expressed her desire for a stable home life, which she believed helped her music. She also shared that her relationship with Paul had brought her happiness, and that she loved being with him. Their bond seemed to be going strong, as evidenced by Paul attending Adele’s Las Vegas residency show in December to celebrate his 41st birthday, where Adele serenaded him with “Happy Birthday.”
In May 2024, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple’s relationship was solid, with Adele being described as deeply in love with Paul. While her reps have not commented on the engagement directly, Adele’s playful remark during her Munich concert all but confirmed that she and Rich Paul are indeed headed for marriage.
