Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Relationship 2025: Are They Still Together?

Ariana Grande has had high-profile relationships with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Pete Davidson, her former Saturday Night Live co-star, and the late rapper Mac Miller. She was married to real estate agent Dalton Gomez for about two years, but they announced their separation in 2023 and finalized their divorce shortly after.

More recently, the “Positions” singer has been linked to Ethan Slater, her co-star in the two-part film adaptation of Wicked. Slater, an American actor and singer, is best known for playing the title role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, earning a Tony nomination for his performance. In November, he appeared in the first part of Wicked, portraying Boq, a Munchkinlander in love with Grande’s character, Glinda.

Since their relationship became public, Grande and Slater have made headlines, though they’ve attempted to keep their romance private. So, what do we know about this new pairing?

DO NOT MISS: How much is Sabrina Carpenter Net Worth in 2025?

Ariana broke up with Dalton

In the deluxe version of her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine: Brighter Days Ahead, Ariana Grande offers a deeply personal look into her relationships, particularly through the final track, “Hampstead.” This song, which Grande has described as one of her “favorite songs [she’s] ever written,” reflects her candid emotions regarding her relationship with Ethan Slater and the end of her marriage to Dalton Gomez.

The song’s lyrics suggest that Grande is addressing both the public and her ex-husband. In the opening lines, she acknowledges the messy nature of her decision to date Slater but expresses that it was ultimately to protect both herself and Gomez from further pain. The reference to “leaving my heart at a pub in Hampstead” symbolizes a pivotal moment in her emotional journey, and “misplacing my mind in a good way” implies she found a sense of clarity and liberation through her choices. The line “Threw away my reputation, but saved us more heartache” highlights how, while her decision might have been publicly scrutinized, it was made with the intention of sparing both her and Dalton more emotional distress in the future.

The chorus brings an even more direct reference to her past relationship and feelings, drawing a parallel to her song “POV” from Positions. In these lines, Ariana explores the idea of embracing vulnerability and feeling everything, even the pain, instead of remaining numb. The reference to “a little bit of poison” suggests that she acknowledges the risks and complexities of emotions, but she’d rather experience life fully, even if it means facing difficult truths.

Ultimately, “Hampstead” serves as a raw and unfiltered message about Ariana’s emotional process, navigating the end of one chapter in her life while embracing new beginnings.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater

​Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater began their relationship in early 2023 after meeting on the set of the film adaptation of Wicked, where Ariana portrays Glinda and Ethan plays Boq. Both were married to other partners at the time; Ariana was married to Dalton Gomez, and Ethan was married to Lilly Jay. Their respective separations occurred earlier in 2023, with Ariana and Dalton reportedly separating in January, and Ethan and Lilly separating following the birth of their child in 2022. By July 2023, their relationship became public. Since then, they have made several public appearances together, including attending the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Oscars.

Ethan tears up watching Ariana perform.

Ethan Slater was visibly emotional while watching Ariana Grande perform, showcasing the deep affection and admiration he has for her. In a heartfelt moment, Ethan teared up as he watched Ariana on stage, likely overwhelmed by both her talent and the emotional depth of her performance. This moment serves as a testament to their strong bond and mutual support, with Ethan clearly proud of Ariana’s accomplishments. His emotional reaction reflects not only his personal feelings for her but also the respect he has for her as an artist.

Ariana has often spoken about the importance of her relationships and the support she receives from those close to her, and Ethan’s visible emotion serves as a genuine display of that connection. Fans have found these moments endearing, seeing the couple’s dynamic as one of deep care and appreciation for each other.

Ethan gushes about Ariana

Ariana Grande received her first Oscar nomination for her role in Wicked, and her boyfriend, Ethan Slater, couldn’t be prouder of her.

“I’m unbelievably proud of her. She worked so hard. Both she and Cynthia [Erivo] put in so much effort, not only to make this movie and bring the best versions of Glinda and Elphaba to life but also in promoting it. They’re both incredible, and I’m endlessly proud,” Ethan, who also stars in the film, shared with Us Weekly.

He also gave fans a glimpse of what to expect from Wicked part two, teasing, “I think people have already seen how Ariana and Cynthia have added such emotional depth to their characters. Ari, in particular, brings such great comedy, but there’s also a real truth and grounding to it.”

Ethan Slater had the same reaction as all of us when Ariana Grande received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Glinda in Wicked. On Instagram, he shared a post featuring a photo of Ariana in an oversized white sweater, holding pink balloons, and standing in front of a window. It was his first post exclusively featuring her, and while he didn’t add a caption, the photo spoke for itself.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ethan Slater (@ethanslater)

In his Stories, Slater also celebrated his girlfriend’s achievement, posting a slide announcing her nomination. He shared a shot of Ariana from the movie with “Oscar: Nominated” written over it, as well as a clip of her singing “The Wizard and I” from Wicked, the musical, when she was just a child.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater at Met Gala

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater made a rare joint appearance at the National Board of Review Gala in New York City, looking completely smitten as they were photographed chatting, dancing, and embracing. The couple walked the red carpet together alongside their Wicked co-stars, with Ariana looking enchanting in a baby-pink gown inspired by Glinda, adorned with layers of sparkling diamonds. Ethan was equally stylish in a sleek black suit and white shirt, complementing Ariana’s dreamy look.

Ethan’s ex-wife

In a candid essay for The Cut, Dr. Lilly Jay, a clinical psychologist and Ethan Slater’s ex-wife, opens up about the pain of losing her partner and her sense of anonymity. “No one gets married expecting to get divorced, just like we don’t board a plane expecting it to crash. But I truly never thought I’d get divorced—especially not right after giving birth to my first child, and especially not in the wake of my husband’s new relationship with a celebrity,” she begins.

Slater left Jay shortly after the birth of their first child. By then, he had already started filming Wicked with Ariana Grande, and their romance had begun.

“…I confidently moved to another country with my 2-month-old baby and my husband to support his career. Lost in the magic and mundanity of new motherhood, I didn’t see the growing distance between us,” Jay writes.

She goes on to share that she and Slater now co-parent their son and, despite everything, she is slowly healing from the trauma of having the most difficult period of her life exposed to the public. “For me, days with my son are sunny. But on days when I can’t escape the promotion of a movie linked to the saddest chapter of my life, those days are darker,” she writes, referring to Wicked.

November 14, 2024 Red Carpet

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater made a rare public display of affection at the premiere of Wicked at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. On the red carpet, Grande, dressed in a custom Louis Vuitton gown in a soft berry hue, leans in for a hug from Slater, who wraps his arms around her in return. He looked dashing in a navy and black suit, paired with a white shirt and black tie, complementing Ariana’s elegant look perfectly.

At the L.A. premiere of Wicked, Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater shared several sweet moments on the red carpet. One of the highlights was when Grande paused to adjust Slater’s bow tie as the cameras captured the affectionate gesture. During the event, an interviewer from Entertainment Tonight reminded Ariana of a heartwarming moment at the film’s Australia premiere, when Slater was seen carrying her train. “It’s always like that. He’s always that adorable, and he’s incredible in this film. He’s such a wonderful person,” Ariana said of her boyfriend. “I’m so happy that people are getting to know him. My heart is full.”

Slater also shared with the outlet, “I’m so proud of Ariana. She’s amazing in this movie, and now I’m just grateful to be able to share in its celebration.”

Ethan talks about public reaction

In an interview with GQ, Ethan Slater opens up about the intense public scrutiny surrounding his relationship with Ariana Grande over the past year.

“Obviously, it’s been a huge year,” he shares with the magazine. “There was something really difficult about having your private life exposed and constantly commented on by the public. A lot of big changes were happening behind the scenes, and it’s tough to see people who know nothing about the situation speculate and get things wrong about the people you love. That part of it was really hard.”

He adds, “But, of course, it’s been an amazing year, and a truly beautiful experience. I’m just really excited.”

When it comes to Ariana’s performance in Wicked, he says, “I’m so incredibly proud of Ari and the work she’s done. She gave everything to this project. I’m proud to have been there for that part of it, and I’m excited to be there as the world gets to see the amazing work she’s created.”

Ariana defends Ethan

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Ariana Grande reflects on the challenges of navigating the early days of her relationship with Ethan Slater amidst rumors in the tabloids and on social media. “The most disappointing part was seeing so many people believe the worst version of it,” she shares. “That was definitely a tough journey.”

Grande emphasizes that the narrative of Slater abandoning his wife and child is far from the truth. “There couldn’t be a more inaccurate depiction of a person than the one the tabloids painted of him,” she says, adding that there are details she will “never go into.”

She continues, “No one on this earth works harder or stretches themselves thinner to be there for the people they love and care about. There’s no one with a better heart, and that’s something no tabloid can rewrite in real life.”

Ariana and Ethan enjoy a date at the Stanley Cup Final

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater were spotted attending game one of the Stanley Cup Final in Florida, where they shared a fun and relaxed moment together. In photos from the event, the couple can be seen sitting next to each other, laughing and smiling, clearly enjoying each other’s company. Ariana wore a casual black sweatshirt paired with a white skirt, while Ethan sported a black and red zip-up jacket. Their joyful demeanor captured a lighthearted, loving moment away from the public eye.

Ariana’s brother, Frankie, opens up about Ethan

At Gurus Magazine’s #30Voices30Days launch party in Los Angeles, Frankie Grande opened up to TooFab about Ethan Slater.

“I love him, he’s a really sweet guy. I’ve been a fan of his ever since I saw him in SpongeBob [the musical],” the Big Brother alum shared. “I even had the chance to interview him when I was doing the SpongeBob SquarePants podcast. The Broadway community is such a close-knit family.”

Frankie then got candid about Slater’s relationship with Ariana. “He’s a great guy. Ethan’s wonderful,” Frankie said. “He’s incredibly sweet. I adore him. Honestly, I’ve always said this—my only wish is for my sister to be happy, and when she’s happy, I’m happy. So, I’m very happy for them.”

Ethan and Ariana match at CinemaCon

Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande attended CinemaCon 2024 in Las Vegas to promote Wicked. For the event, Grande wore a striking pink-and-white 3-D floral gown by Oscar de la Renta, while Slater coordinated with her in a light pink polo shirt. The couple posed for photos with their co-stars and were later seen holding hands as they left the event together.

On the night of the Spamalot revival’s final performance at the St. James Theatre in New York City, Grande made sure to support her boyfriend, who played Prince Herbert/The Historian. Despite the packed crowd, she managed to squeeze in to watch the show.

After the curtain fell, the pair was spotted leaving the theater hand-in-hand. Grande wore a chocolate quilted puffer coat paired with light-wash jeans and black toy pumps, while Slater opted for a gray sweater, blue jeans, and a cream baseball cap.

Grande also took to Instagram to share her support, posting a picture of the Spamalot cast and writing, “Congratulations to the most beautiful, talented, and kindest cast and crew on a magnificent run.”

Are Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater still together?

As of 2024, Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are still together. Their relationship has been public for over a year, and the couple has been spotted at multiple events, supporting each other’s work and showing affection. They made appearances together at film premieres like Wicked, shared moments at concerts, and celebrated milestones together. Ariana has also expressed how much she values their bond, and Ethan has spoken about his admiration for her both personally and professionally.

While they’ve faced media scrutiny and public speculation, especially around the timing of their relationship following Ethan’s previous marriage, they continue to show support for each other, further solidifying their relationship. They are frequently seen together at events, and Ariana has posted about Ethan, showing her continued happiness in their connection.