Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams Hold Hands Amid Romance Speculation

After weeks of speculation, Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams have been seen holding hands, sparking fan theories that they are officially dating.

Normal People star Mescal, 28, and singer Abrams, 24, first ignited dating rumors when they were spotted together at a restaurant in June this year.

Abrams is also thought to have referenced the Gladiator II star in her song “Normal Things,” with fans suggesting that the lyrics hinted at Mescal’s breakout role in the series adaptation of Sally Rooney’s book.

In July, the pair were seen out shopping and have maintained a relatively low profile since then. However, new images and footage obtained by the DailyMail show Mescal and Abrams holding hands while walking through London, seemingly dropping any pretense.

In the footage, Mescal has his arms around the pop star while she holds his fingers. At one point, she playfully bites Mescal’s thumb as he jokingly winces in mock pain.

The couple were reportedly heading to Mountain Restaurant in Soho.

Mescal gained fame for his portrayal of bookish and athletic Connor Waldron in Normal People alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones, a role that led to intense public interest in his romantic life.

However, the actor stated last year that he was determined to keep his love life private, especially after media attention following his breakup with Boygenius singer Phoebe Bridgers.

“When Normal People came out, I was very open in interviews, and it didn’t actually serve me,” he told Vanity Fair. “But the temptation still exists to be like: ‘Shut the f*** up. This is my life. This is what’s going on. Or this is what’s not going on.’”

Mescal explained that speaking publicly about his relationships hasn’t benefited him.

“But moving forward, as much as I can, that’s going to be my life that is private. That’s a difficult thing to achieve. But giving strangers an answer about my life doesn’t actually help me,” he continued.

“It’s like a quick boost of serotonin, being like: ‘I’ve said what I need to say.’ And then it’s just Twitter fodder.”

Mescal and Bridgers began dating in 2020, with engagement rumors surfacing in April 2022. During Mescal’s interview with The Guardian in November of that year, the publication suggested they were engaged.

However, the magazine later retracted the claim, leading to speculation that the pair had split.

The Independent has reached out to representatives for Mescal and Abrams for comment.