Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are currently in a relationship, and both are starring in the upcoming movie adaptation of Wicked. Their connection first became public in July 2023, shortly after Ariana’s separation from her husband, Dalton Gomez, and Ethan’s divorce from his ex-wife, Lilly Jay.
Though the couple met during the Wicked production in the U.K. in 2022, they made their relationship official after both had separated from their former partners. A source clarified in September 2023 that their romance started only after they were no longer together with their spouses.
In Wicked, Grande portrays Glinda, while Slater plays Boq. Slater’s character develops an affection for Glinda but eventually becomes involved with Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister. The film’s production began in December 2022, a few months after the casting announcements were made.
Though private about their relationship, Slater spoke highly of Ariana in October 2024, calling her “a comedian” with “a crazy voice that can do anything” in an interview with GQ. The couple made a public appearance together at the Wicked premiere in Los Angeles in November 2024, where Ariana adjusted Slater’s tie in a candid moment.
Ethan Slater is best known for his portrayal of SpongeBob SquarePants in the Broadway musical of the same name, a role that earned him a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award. Before this success, he attended Vassar College after studying at Georgetown Day School and Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.
Slater was previously married to his high school sweetheart Lilly Jay in 2018. They had been together since 2012. During their relationship, Jay supported Slater at various industry events. Following news of his relationship with Ariana, Ethan filed for divorce in July 2023. The couple reached a divorce settlement in September 2024.
Lilly Jay spoke out about the end of her marriage in a December 2024 essay for The Cut. In the piece, she shared the emotional struggles of coping with the public end of her marriage and her new reality as a single mother. Jay had given birth to their son in August 2022, and she admitted to struggling with the sudden public attention surrounding her divorce.
In January 2023, Ethan and Lilly welcomed their son. Ethan later shared a post about their new arrival, and by Mother’s Day, he confirmed the birth of their child. Reflecting on fatherhood in October 2024, Slater described it as “the best thing in the world,” although he noted that co-parenting with Jay has been challenging as new parents.
In 2024, Ariana and Ethan attended the Stanley Cup Final together, further showing their growing relationship.
