Ethan Slater Shuts Down Ariana Grande Breakup Rumors With VMAs Praise

Ethan Slater proved he is a sentimental man.

Although the actor from “Wicked” wasn’t present with Ariana Grande at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on September 7th, he made sure to acknowledge and appreciate her accomplishments outside the UBS Arena.

Ethan posted Ariana Grande’s acceptance speech for Best Pop and Video of the Year on his Instagram Stories, emphasizing her victories by overlaying the titles on the screen.

Regarding the speech, the “I can’t be friends” artist, who was accompanied at the VMAs by her father Edward Butera, mother Joan Grande, brother Frankie Grande along with his husband Hale Leon, graciously expressed her appreciation upon receiving her award.

On stage, Ariana expressed heartfelt gratitude towards her fans, fighting back tears. She shared, “I adore you deeply, right down to every cell in my body. Thank you, MTV. I’m also thankful to my father for making his acting debut in this video. He is an exceptional scene partner and the best dad anyone could ask for.

Apart from acknowledging the eight nominations she received at age 32, she also took a moment to express gratitude towards her music video director, Christian Breslauer, as well as the entire crew consisting of producers, editors, visual effects artists, designers, and others involved in the project.

She expressed her gratitude for not only the selection of these songs but also for giving them a visual form that was whimsical, precise, open, and safeguarding simultaneously.

In 2023, Ariana, who had made her relationship with Ethan public, gained two more Moon Person awards for her collection. Through it all, Ethan consistently cheered her on as her most dedicated supporter.

Ariana, whose romance with Ethan became known in 2023, expanded her Moon Person award collection by two pieces. Through it all, Ethan remained her biggest fan and cheerleader.

In an interview with TopMob News last November, I couldn’t help but gush about this extraordinary talent. She isn’t your typical artist dabbling in multiple fields; instead, she effortlessly excels as both a singer and actress without any signs of one overshadowing the other. Simply put, she is the epitome of greatness in both realms.

Instead of just the VMAs, Ariana has been basking in a bubble of gratitude since the start of her journey into Oz. To put it simply, the “Positions” singer was delighted to be recognized for her work in the Broadway adaptation during awards season. Yet, she is equally thankful for the character of Glinda and its impact on her.

Ariana shared with PinkNews in November that she’s gained a fresh sense of courage and aptitude to heed voices within herself that she might not have paid attention to previously. This newfound ability, she emphasized, is rooted in self-trust.

She mentioned that playing the character inspired by “The Wizard of Oz” taught her about setting boundaries, and she was thankful for her ability to make heavy things seem lighter, something she might have already possessed but didn’t realize its worth. That’s why she’s here – because of our shared connection in some way.

Apart from the VMAs, Ariana has been basking in a whirlwind of gratitude since the start of her adventure into Oz. Indeed, the “Positions” singer was delighted to be recognized for her work in the Broadway adaptation during award ceremonies, but she is equally grateful for the character of Glinda and its impact on her.

In an interview with PinkNews in November, Ariana shared, “She has granted me a fresh vigor and capacity to heed voices that I might not have listened to earlier, from within myself. It’s about the power of self-trust.

She mentioned that playing the character reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz helped her learn to establish boundaries. Moreover, she expressed gratitude for the character’s ability to make burdens seem lighter, a trait she may have possessed but wasn’t aware of its value. This is why she’s here today, because of our shared association with this characteristic.

Keep reading to see all the celebrities at the 2025 VMAs.