Nine months after his breakup from Aubrey Paige Petcosky, Ryan Seacrest found a lighthearted way to mark Valentine’s Day—with his ultimate love: food. 

The 50-year-old media mogul took to Instagram on February 14 to share a fun and cheesy tribute to the holiday, giving fans a glimpse of how he spent the romantic occasion.

In the photo, Ryan flashed his signature grin while holding a heart-shaped pizza in an open box.

Dressed in a stylish patterned button-down shirt, the American Idol host captioned the post with a witty remark:

“Cheese on the pizza and extra cheese on the grin… Happy #ValentinesDay to my true love — food.”

His followers quickly flooded the comments with playful reactions. One user wrote, “You’re tugging at my heartstrings.

Pizza!” to which Ryan enthusiastically responded, “Everyone’s favorite love language.” The official American Idol Instagram account joined in on the fun, commenting, “True love is so special,” with a pizza emoji. Meanwhile, the Wheel of Fortune Instagram account chimed in with a simple but warm “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

The Reason Behind Ryan and Aubrey’s Breakup

Ryan’s Valentine’s Day celebration comes less than a year after his split from Aubrey Paige, 27, with whom he had shared a three-year relationship. According to sources, the demanding nature of Ryan’s career was a key factor in the couple’s decision to part ways.

A source revealed to Closer in May 2024 that his packed schedule made it difficult to sustain the relationship. “Ryan’s so busy, and that didn’t help,” the insider explained. “His schedule left little time for Aubrey as it was, so they decided it was best to call it quits.”

Rumors had circulated that Aubrey had hoped for a proposal after three years together. “She wants marriage and kids,” the source shared. “That shouldn’t come as a shock.”

Even Ryan’s colleagues from American Idol reportedly encouraged him to take the next step. In April 2024, an insider told Closer, “Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan have both been telling him about the joys of fatherhood, and during a live American Idol airing, Katy Perry actually yelled at him, ‘Yes, it’s time!’”

Ryan Seacrest’s Views on Marriage and Love

Despite the external pressure, Ryan has maintained a measured approach to relationships. In December 2024, while promoting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest on Good Morning America, he gave rare insight into his love life and his thoughts on finding a lifelong partner.

During the segment, GMA anchor Rebecca Jarvis noted how many people use New Year’s Eve as an opportunity for marriage proposals in Times Square. “And then you have people proposing in Times Square, literally, like, ‘Let’s get married,’” she remarked.

Ryan, who has never been engaged or married, responded with his characteristic humor. “Yes, that’s something that’s happened almost every single year. Some of it makes TV, some of it doesn’t, but people love that moment to say, ‘Will you be with me for the rest of our lives?’”

Will Reeve, who was newly engaged at the time, jokingly added, “I should have done the proposal on New Year’s Eve with Ryan. [Fiancée] Amanda [Dubin] would have said no.”

Ryan quipped in response, “There’s still time for me,” prompting Reeve to encourage him, “You’ve got this, Ryan. We won’t rush you, though.”

Laughing, Ryan concluded the conversation with, “Yeah, please. I’m taking my time.”

Looking Ahead

While Ryan Seacrest may not have spent this Valentine’s Day in a traditional romantic setting, his lighthearted post proved that he is embracing life with humor and enthusiasm. Whether he finds love again soon or continues enjoying his busy career and love for good food, one thing is certain—Ryan Seacrest is doing things on his own terms.

For now, his “true love” appears to be a perfect slice of pizza, and his fans are more than happy to share in the cheesy fun.