Singer Ariana Grande and rapper Big Sean fuelled rumours of a new romance after they were spotted holding hands backstage at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night (24Aug14).

Speculation recently surfaced that the 21-year-old pop star and the rapper, 26, have turned their friendship romantic after collaborating on a few of her songs, including Right There, Problem and Grande's next single, Best Mistake.

The couple suggested the reports were true when a camera caught the two as they walked down a hallway at Los Angeles' Forum venue hand-in-hand, right after she stepped offstage from her performance of Break Free and Bang Bang with Nicki Minaj and Jessie J.

Big Sean has been single since calling off his engagement to Glee actress Naya Rivera in April (14), while Grande ended her on/off relationship with singer Jai Brooks in July (14).