As a storyteller and observer of human connections, I find Ethan Slater’s journey to be quite captivating. From his humble beginnings on Broadway to sharing the stage with one of the world’s most celebrated pop stars, Ethan’s life has been nothing short of enchanting.
On a single day, away from the Emerald City and instead participating in a Zoom meeting, it was revealed to Ariana Grande that she had been chosen for the role of Glinda in the movie version of the musical “Wicked”.
The singer remarked to Rotten Tomatoes, “When I noticed [director] Jon M. Chu, I thought to myself, ‘This is either a fantastic opportunity, or the most disheartening way to disappoint someone.’ Given that I had spent months preparing for the auditions, I was trembling. My entire body reacted as if it were in fight-or-flight mode. I felt detached from my own self, watching the whole incident unfold from a bird’s-eye view. I have never experienced such emotions before in my life.
When Ariana learned that Cynthia Erivo was portraying the lead character Elphaba, she experienced another bout of overwhelming joy, as she herself described it.
As a dedicated follower, I was thrilled to learn in November 2021 about the casting of the two actresses who had shared about their bond during the filming of the two-part movie. Fast forward 13 months, and the news dropped that Ethan Slater would be part of the cast for the prequel to The Wizard of Oz, focusing on the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba before they became known as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively.
Despite having earned recognition on his own, such as a Tony nomination for his leading role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, the actor acknowledged that joining the illustrious ensemble took a fair amount of bravery.
Ethan, who portrays Boq from Munchkinland, shared with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age at the recent Australian premiere that he found it quite daunting initially. He admitted being petrified since he was well-versed in every cast member’s work, and he had been an ardent fan to start with.
But even a heartless Tinman would have been moved by the love shown his way.
Then, quite swiftly, Ethan added, “It was disarming indeed. Each time I met someone new, I was warmly embraced and felt a sense of belonging. It was truly unique. This acceptance made it less daunting. And occasionally, I’d recall, ‘Ah, that’s Ariana and Cynthia, they are arguably the best singers of their generation in many aspects.’
Rehearsals for the project were underway by then, but filming didn’t commence until later in the year. By April 2023, Ariana shared on Instagram that they had reached the halfway point. Reflecting on her time in Oz as a “life-altering” period where she was “experiencing, learning, and growing at an astonishing pace,” the Grammy winner later wrote in her post that she was undergoing transformation and healing aspects of herself that she hadn’t realized needed it or perhaps did.
However, life beyond Glinda’s protective bubble was undergoing transformation as well. In July 2023, following the temporary halt of Wicked’s production due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, TopMob News reported that Ariana and her husband Dalton Gomez had parted ways (Divorce papers acquired by TMZ indicated the couple had separated in February 2023).
In the whirlwind aftermath of their split, I – a die-hard fan – found myself caught in another storm. A reliable source, privy to the situation, spilled the beans to TopMob News: Ariana was romantically entangled with Ethan, who too was navigating the choppy waters of a separation from his then-wife, none other than Lilly Jay.
Since their respective divorces have been completed at around the same time, their journey together hasn’t been an entirely seamless one, reminiscent of Dorothy and her companions not having a straightforward trip along the Yellow Brick Road.
In my own words, I shared with Vanity Fair during an interview in September, “It’s never simple dealing with the negativity spawned by some dishonest tabloids. After all, there were numerous life changes happening during the production of this film, and many of us involved faced similar upheavals. We were away for two long years, which certainly provided ample material for the tabloids to sensationalize and keep their operations running.
She went on to express her disappointment, stating, “The hardest part was witnessing so many people embrace an unfair portrayal of it.” This referred to the speculation that Ethan had been unfaithful to Lilly for the sake of a high-profile romance. However, Ariana defended him to the magazine, asserting, “There’s simply no representation more detached from reality than the one the tabloids have painted about him.
Apart from the breakup, another shocking news swept across fans’ social media platforms. A few days later, a reliable source disclosed to TopMob News that Ariana was involved with Ethan, who was then in the process of parting ways with his wife, Lilly Jay.
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but notice the timing of my beloved costars’ partings – both having walked their separate paths after finalizing their divorces. It wasn’t exactly a stroll along the Yellow Brick Road for either of them, that’s for sure!
Ariana shared with Vanity Fair in an interview last September that it doesn’t become any less challenging to confront the negativity spawned by dishonest tabloids. She acknowledged that during the making of this film, she and many others involved experienced significant life changes. Being away for two years provided ample material for the tabloids to fabricate stories that served their interests.
She remarked sadly, ‘The saddest part was witnessing so many people accepting the exaggerated and negative portrayal of it.’ This referred to the gossip that Ethan had been unfaithful to Lilly for the sake of being in a high-profile relationship. But Ariana firmly stated to the magazine, “There simply couldn’t be a more misleading representation of a person than the one the tabloids presented about him.
She may not delve deeply into specific instances, but it’s evident that no one is more dedicated or stretches themselves further in attempting to be present and supportive for the people they care about, especially those associated with the Spamalot troupe.
Ariana went on saying, ‘There isn’t anyone on the planet with a kinder heart,’ she emphasized. ‘No gossip magazine could ever twist reality to portray such goodness,’
Once upon a time, she expressed on Instagram that she felt profoundly misunderstood by people who didn’t know her, as they pieced together rumors and misconceptions about her life. However, it seems no gossip or internet speculation could ever bring her down, not even in the land of Oz.
Ariana shared with Vanity Fair that it’s required a great deal of effort and personal growth to endure this long and mend certain aspects of her relationship with fame and her career, given the persistent attempts by tabloids to undermine her since she was 19. However, at 31, she is not flawless, but she is genuinely good-hearted, and she takes pride in her personal development. Regardless of the malicious tabloids, they will never tarnish my life or my understanding of what is genuine and virtuous.
Ariana and Ethan, who is the father of a 2-year-old boy, have been unfazed by critics as they continue to live their lives happily. Over the past year, they’ve enjoyed outings to Disney, the theater, dinners, and hockey games. Additionally, Ethan has had the pleasure of meeting Ariana’s family, including her brother Frankie Grande.
Absolutely, they’ve also made appearances on the widely recognized “Wicked” press tour, during which Ariana and Ethan have been seen displaying affectionate gestures like linking arms with one another.
Even weeks after our movie’s release on November 22, I can confidently affirm that, notwithstanding the hurdles we encountered along the way, our bond has undeniably etched itself deep into each other’s hearts.
Ethan remarked in the magazine, “Indeed, this was an exceptionally momentous year for me, and I found it particularly challenging when aspects of my personal life became a matter of public scrutiny. There were numerous significant changes happening privately, making it tough to see outsiders commenting, guessing, and often misinforming about people close to my heart. So, I’d like to shed light on this part – it’s the hardest.
“But, of course, it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing,” he continued, “and I’m just really excited. I’m just really, really proud of Ari and the work she’s done on this. She’s poured herself into it. I’m really proud that I got to be there for that part of it, and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did.”
And if you feel like you’ve been changed for good by Ethan and Ariana’s romance, keep reading to learn more about their relationship.
A source near the couple, who got together on the set of “Wicked,” revealed to TopMob News that they started dating around July 2023. In early September 2023, Grande indirectly showed her support for Slater by giving a thumbs-up to an announcement about his role in “Spamalot” on Broadway.
During the same month, they were spotted together for the initial time, visiting none other than Ariana’s most cherished spot on the planet – Disney World. As depicted in images published by TMZ, this pair strolled leisurely through the Florida amusement park with arms linked.
According to a reliable source who is acquainted with both Grande and Slater, they were seen on their outing accompanied by a large group that included Grande’s mother and brother. The insider reported that the two seem extremely content and well-suited as partners.
In a series of pictures published by TMZ, the co-stars displayed affectionate gestures subtly during dinner in New York City. About a few weeks later, Grande was spotted attending Slater’s performances of Spamalot on Broadway, where he portrayed The Historian/Prince Herbert, to offer her support.
Grandé shone brightly as she exited St. James Theater with companions, donning a playbill-crafted crown from the performance and holding a Playbill tightly.
Later on, Ariana Grande went to the premiere of “Spamalot” and posted about it on Instagram, showcasing her night. In the pictures, she was seen in a classy black dress, complemented with sheer black gloves and a “Spamalot” cup. The last slide of her series even acknowledged the cast, including Slater, with a sweet message that read, “Congratulations on your Broadway debut.
In an unexpected social media post on Instagram in December 2023, Ariana Grande shared some festive holiday moments with a snapshot of a Christmas tree decorated against a wall and adorned with a Spam can ornament. Swiftly recognizing the link to Slater, fans noticed that “Spamalot” was playing on Broadway at that moment.
On December 23rd, 2023, the pair enjoyed an evening meal in New York City, accompanied by Ariana Grande’s father, Ed Butera.
In the same month, Grande hinted at new tunes and later revealed “Eternal Sunshine” for early 2024 release. While no tracks directly reference Slater on this album, attentive fans noted that the initials E.S., which stands for “Eternal Sunshine,” intriguingly—or intentionally—correspond with Ariana’s boyfriend’s initials.
Come March 2024, I found myself officially parting ways with my former partner, Dalton Gomez. As the warm summer breeze rolled in, my beloved brother, Frankie Grande, graciously bestowed his blessing upon a new romantic chapter in my life.
“I love him,” Frankie said of Slater in a June 2024 interview with TooFab. “He’s a very sweet guy.”
Following the airing of Frankie’s interview, I had the privilege to join Ariana Grande and Dylan Slater at the 2024 Stanley Cup final in Florida – our first highly-publicized joint appearance since our relationship began.
During a conversation with Vanity Fair in September 2024, Grande spoke openly about her relationship with Slater for the first time, clarifying any misunderstandings regarding the timing of their romance in relation to their past relationships.
She shared with the media outlet that the negativity stemming from dubious tabloids certainly doesn’t become any less challenging to face. “Indeed, I experienced many personal transformations while making this film,” she added, “and numerous individuals involved in its production went through significant changes as well.
Grande went on to defend Slater against any negativity thrown at him.
Grande stated that the portrayal of him by the tabloids was far from truthful. He asserted that there’s nobody who works harder or stretches themselves more to be present for those they love and care about. There isn’t anyone with a kinder heart, and this is something that even sensationalized tabloid stories can’t change in reality.
That same month, Slater finalized his divorce with ex Lilly Jay—with whom he shares a young son.
Around a month following his public endorsement of Ariana Grande’s October 2024 Saturday Night Live hosting role, Slater publicly discussed their relationship and the ensuing criticism for the very first time.
Reflecting back on last year, I found myself captivated by the enchanting journey that unfolded while working side-by-side with Ariana Grande during our time on “Wicked.” As I sit down for an interview with GQ in October 2024, I can’t help but feel a wave of excitement and pride wash over me. Ariana has truly outdone herself in this production, pouring every ounce of her talent and passion into it – a testament to the extraordinary artist she has become.
Nevertheless, Slater confessed that he struggled to be patient while others held onto their writing tools, reluctant to warm up to him once more.
He mentioned that it was particularly challenging for personal matters in one’s life to be scrutinized and judged by the public. Given the significant transformations taking place privately, it can be disheartening to witness individuals without any insight into the situation voicing their opinions about it.
But he was able to block out the noise somewhat. As he added of Grande’s song “Imperfect For You,” which is rumored to be about him, “I love that song.”
On a single day in the city reminiscent of Emerald (specifically Sydney), Grande and Slater graced a media gathering for the play titled ‘Wicked‘, sharing an affectionate embrace.
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2024-11-09 15:19