Ethan Slater Makes Rare Comment on Girlfriend Ariana Grande

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Ethan Slater is always encouragerizing his girlfriend Ariana Grande. 

The star of Wicked, who started dating singer Ariana Grande while filming the Jon M. Chu-directed movie in 2023, recently shared some personal thoughts about his partner. He also complimented his co-star, Cynthia Erivo, on her performance in Wicked: For Good.

Ethan shared at the New York premiere of Wicked: For Good on November 17th that everyone involved in the show is amazing, except for those present with him at the time. He specifically praised Ariana’s performance as being exceptional and described Cynthia’s performance as unbelievable.

Ethan and his girlfriend generally keep their two-year relationship private, but he’s been very supportive of her work, especially her role as Glinda the Good. When Ariana received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress earlier this year for the first part of the series, Ethan proudly shared the news on Instagram, simply writing, “Oscar. Nominated.”

Ariana has also spoken very highly of her partner. In February, while on the Smartless podcast, she simply said, “He’s amazing.”

The 32-year-old also spoke up for her partner, addressing the criticism he faced after his split from wife Lilly Jay in 2023. The separation happened shortly after they had a son together the previous year.

Looking back, it was a really difficult time,” Ariana told Vanity Fair in 2024. “The way the tabloids portrayed him was completely untrue to who he really was.”

Even though Ariana Grande dealt with negative media attention surrounding her 2023 split from Dalton Gomez, she was more focused on clarifying the details of her current relationship.

She explained that he consistently goes above and beyond for the people he loves, always spreading himself too thin to help them. She also emphasized that he’s a genuinely kind person, and no negative media portrayal could ever change that.

Ariana isn’t worried about what people think of her anymore; she’s moved past that.

I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection lately, and honestly, I feel really good about the person I’m growing into – I’m truly proud of who I am. And you know what? I’m not going to let negativity, especially those awful tabloids, get me down or distort my sense of what’s right and what matters. I’m taking control and focusing on what’s real for me.

For a deeper look into Ethan and Ariana’s romance, keep reading…

In July 2023, news outlets reported that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater had recently started dating after meeting while filming Wicked. In early September 2023, Grande showed her support for Slater by liking a post on social media announcing his role in the Broadway production of Spamalot.

Later that month, the pair were spotted together for the first time at Disney World – a place Ariana Grande loves. Photos published by TMZ showed them walking through the Florida theme park holding hands.

According to a source familiar with Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s relationship, they recently spent time with a large group of friends and family – including Grande’s mother and brother – and seem very happy together, bringing out the best in each other.

Photos published by TMZ show the two actors displaying some affection during a dinner date in New York City. Shortly after, Ariana Grande attended a preview performance of Spamalot on Broadway to support her costar, who played the roles of The Historian and Prince Herbert.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I just saw her! Ariana was absolutely glowing as she left the St. James Theater with some friends. She was still wearing this adorable little paper crown they give out at the show, and she was holding onto her Playbill like it was the most precious thing in the world. It was seriously the cutest thing ever, I almost died!

Ariana Grande went to the opening night of Spamalot and shared photos from the evening on Instagram. She wore a chic black dress with sheer gloves and carried a Spamalot cup. Her post also included a shout-out to the cast, including Slater, wishing them a happy opening night on Broadway.

Ariana Grande recently shared a glimpse of her holiday decorations on Instagram in December 2023, including a Christmas tree with a unique ornament: a Spam can. Fans immediately noticed this and connected it to her then-boyfriend, Ethan Slater, who was performing in the Broadway musical Spamalot.

On Dec. 23, 2023, the couple stepped out with Grande’s father Ed Butera for dinner in New York City. 

I was so excited when Ariana hinted at new music that same month! Then, in early 2024, she officially announced her album, Eternal Sunshine. While she hasn’t said the songs are about Ethan Slater, all of us fans immediately noticed something fun – the album’s initials, E.S., are the same as his! It feels like a little nod to their relationship, whether intentional or just a coincidence.

Ariana Grande and her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, officially divorced in March 2024. Later that summer, her brother Frankie publicly supported her new relationship.

“I love him,” Frankie said of Slater in a June 2024 interview with TooFab. “He’s a very sweet guy.”

Shortly after Frankie’s interview was published, Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater were seen together at the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals in Florida. This was their most public appearance as a couple since they began dating.

Ariana Grande publicly discussed her relationship with Ethan Slater for the first time in a September 2024 interview with Vanity Fair. She clarified that their romance didn’t begin until after both were separated from their previous partners, addressing rumors about the timing of their relationship.

She admitted it hasn’t gotten any easier dealing with the negative press from unreliable tabloids. She also shared that she and many of her colleagues experienced significant personal changes while making the film.

Grande went on to defend Slater against any negativity thrown at him. 

Grande strongly defended the man, saying the tabloids had painted a completely false picture of him. She explained that he consistently goes above and beyond for those he cares about, and that he’s one of the most kind-hearted people she knows – something no negative press could ever change.

That same month, Slater finalized his divorce with ex Lilly Jay—with whom he shares a young son. 

I was so thrilled when Taylor showed his support for Ariana hosting Saturday Night Live last October! Then, just a month later, he finally opened up about their relationship – and how tough it’s been dealing with all the attention. It was the first time he really talked about it, and I was really glad he did.

In an October 2024 interview with GQ, Slater described falling in love with Grande while filming Wicked as ‘an amazing year and a really beautiful thing.’ He expressed his excitement and pride in her dedication to the film, saying she ‘poured herself into it.’

Even so, Slater confessed it was hard for him to regain people’s approval while they remained focused on their notes and writing tools.

He explained that it was very challenging to have personal matters publicly discussed and scrutinized. With significant personal changes already underway, it felt particularly hurtful to receive opinions from those unaware of the full situation.

He managed to tune out most of the distractions. He even admitted he liked Ariana Grande’s song “Imperfect For You,” which many believe is about him, saying, “I love that song.”

During a quick visit to Sydney, Australia, stars Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, known for their roles in Wicked, shared a friendly hug at a press event.

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2025-11-19 18:47