Sanchez and Upton have been linked for months. (Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)
Ellen DeGeneres tried her hardest yesterday to get Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover girl Kate Upton to divulge whether she is dating Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. But all the model would concede is that Sanchez is “cute.”
DeGeneres slipped in a question about Sanchez while talking to Upton about the small size of the bikini she’s wearing on SI’s cover.
“Your boyfriend, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. How does he feel about this?” DeGeneres asked.
KATE UPTON PLAYS COY ON WHETHER SHE’S DATING MARK SANCHEZ
Upton laughed awkwardly. “Umm, I did not have a Valentine’s Day date this year,” she said, implying that she is single.
“Okay, so [Sanchez] was busy,” said DeGeneres before repeating, “How does your boyfriend Mark Sanchez feel about this?”
Upton responded, “Even if I had a boyfriend, I wouldn’t ask how he felt about it.”
“He would just tell you though,” said DeGeneres, continuing along the line of questioning. “Has he told you, your boyfriend Mark Sanchez? I’m just guessing it’s him. Is it him? … Don’t you think he’s cute?
Upton responded, “He’s cute.”
When asked if she’d met Sanchez before, Upton explained, “I’ve met him. My sister works for the Jets. She’s been working there for four years so I went to all the games. I met him briefly.”
“So now you’re dating?” inserted DeGeneres.
Upton appeared flummoxed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, shaking her head coyly.
Upton and Sanchez were first linked by Page Six in December, when the football star was spotted making late-night visits to the 19-year-old beauty’s Flatiron apartment. Sources revealed that Sanchez been seen carrying Christmas gifts for Upton into the building — and that he often arrived at the building just a few minutes after the model.
“They never come in together. He’s always five steps after her,” our source said.
Earlier this week, Upton similarly played coy about her relationship with the football star. When asked by TMZ if the two were a couple, Upton said, “I don’t know. It’s whatever you think.”