Ethan Slater Supports Ariana Grande During SNL Hosting Gig

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Santa doesn’t need to tell Ariana Grande if Ethan Slater really cares—because he’s showing it himself. 

Okay, so last night was pretty special! I was watching the incredibly talented Grammy winner host Saturday Night Live for the third time, and it was so sweet to see her boyfriend cheering her on from the wings. He was also there to support their Wicked co-star, Bowen Yang, who was saying goodbye after his final show as a cast member. It was a night full of talent and heartfelt moments!

On December 21st, a photo surfaced on Liz Gillies’ Instagram showing Ethan with Ariana and their longtime friend Aaron Simon Gross. Gillies, who starred with Ariana on Victorious, shared the picture taken in her dressing room at SNL.

A fan also photographed the former SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical star arriving at 30 Rock. The photo, shared online, shows the 33-year-old heading into Studio 8H to meet Ariana Grande.

Throughout the performance, Ariana frequently acknowledged her close friend Bowen, even playfully mentioning how much she enjoyed his single line in the musical Wicked.

During her performance, Bowen thanked Ariana. When Ariana started to respond with “You’re welcome,” Bowen playfully interrupted, reminding her that was actually her own line from the movie, Thank You.

Bowen had a great night, and it was natural for Ethan to be there for his partner, Ariana. He’s often spoken about how much he appreciates her talent as a comedian.

Ethan praised her sense of humor, calling her a “comedy genius” during an appearance on Jennifer Hudson’s talk show last year.

He shared that some of Ariana’s most amusing moments happened by accident—they were actually bloopers. He said, “Ariana is naturally funny, and I’m excited for people to see all the funny bits that didn’t end up in the final cut.”

After Ariana received her first Oscar nomination for playing Glinda in Wicked, Ethan quickly announced the news on social media. He posted a picture of Ariana with the simple caption, “Oscar. Nominated.”

Meanwhile, Ariana has also championed her man, especially when it comes to his support. 

She told Vanity Fair last year that he consistently goes above and beyond for the people he loves, always putting others first. She also described him as having an exceptionally kind heart.

For more of Ariana and Ethan’s romance, keep reading…

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

Later that month, the pair were first spotted together at Walt Disney World, a place Ariana Grande loves. Pictures published by TMZ showed them walking hand-in-hand through the Florida theme park.

According to a source familiar with their relationship, Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater 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 obtained by TMZ show the two actors displaying some affectionate behavior during a dinner in New York City. Shortly after, Ariana Grande attended a preview of Spamalot on Broadway to support her costar, who was playing the roles of The Historian and Prince Herbert.

Ariana Grande was all smiles as she left the St. James Theater with friends, wearing a paper crown she received at the show and holding onto the Playbill.

Ariana Grande went to the opening night of Spamalot and shared photos from the evening on Instagram. She wore a stylish 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 shared a peek at her holiday decorations on Instagram in December 2023, posting a photo of a Christmas tree that included a Spam can as an ornament. Fans immediately noticed this detail and connected it to her boyfriend, Ethan Slater, who was performing in the Broadway musical Spamalot at the time.

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

That same month, Ariana Grande hinted at new music, and later announced her album, Eternal Sunshine, in early 2024. While the album doesn’t directly mention her boyfriend, fans noticed that the album’s initials, E.S., match his initials, possibly by design.

Ariana Grande and her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, officially divorced in March 2024. Later that summer, her brother, Frankie Grande, 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 Final 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 the people working on the film were going through significant personal changes during production.

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. 

For the first time, Slater spoke about his relationship with Ariana Grande and the public attention it’s received, just a month after publicly supporting her hosting of Saturday Night Live in October 2024.

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 excitement about their relationship and shared how proud he is of Ari and her dedication to the film, noting she’s “poured herself into it.”

Even so, Slater confessed it was hard to regain people’s approval, especially while they held onto their old notes and writing tools.

He explained that it was incredibly challenging to have personal matters publicly scrutinized and commented on. With so much happening privately, it felt unfair to have people offering opinions without understanding the full situation.

He managed to tune out most of the distractions. When asked about Ariana Grande’s song “Imperfect For You,” which many believe is about him, he simply said, “I love that song.”

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

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2025-12-22 17:23