Ariana Grande Supports Ethan Slater Amid Tabloid Rumors Surrounding Their Relationship

Ariana Grande has taken a stand in defending her boyfriend and Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater, against ongoing tabloid rumors surrounding their relationship. In a revealing interview with Vanity Fair, published on September 30, Grande expressed her frustration over how the media has portrayed Slater amidst allegations about their romance.

This interview marks the first occasion Grande has addressed these swirling rumors directly. Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater met on the set of Wicked, where Grande plays Glinda and Slater portrays Boq. Their relationship became public knowledge in July 2023, shortly after Grande’s separation from her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, and Slater’s divorce from his ex-wife, Lilly Jay.

During the production of Wicked, Grande underwent significant life transitions, including her separation from Gomez in February 2023, followed by filing for divorce in September. Slater also faced his own challenges, parting ways with Jay, with whom he has a young son born in August 2022. In her interview, Grande confronted the pervasive gossip, stating,

“The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it.”She elaborated, calling the narrative surrounding their relationship “definitely a tough ride.”

Rumors had claimed that both Grande and Slater were still entangled with their previous partners when they started dating, but Grande firmly dismissed these allegations.

“There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,”Grande asserted to Vanity Fair, responding to claims that Slater abandoned his ex-wife and their child.

Ariana Grande Advocates for Ethan Slater

Ariana Grande did not hesitate to defend Slater’s character, stating,

“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this Earth with a better heart, and that is something that no bulls–t tabloid can rewrite in real life.”

Although she has kept parts of her relationship with Slater private, Ariana Grande alluded to their love story in her latest album, Eternal Sunshine, which topped the Billboard 200 chart for two weeks and produced two number-one hits: “Yes, And?”and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).”Fans have speculated that the lyrics reflect her breakup with Gomez and the inception of her romance with Ethan Slater.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have largely kept their relationship out of the public eye, despite some appearances together. In April, Grande was seen attending Slater’s final performance in Spamalot, and in June, the couple attended the Stanley Cup finals. They were also spotted visiting a Disney Park and dining with Grande’s father, Ed Butera, in New York City.

Multiple sources have shed light on the couple’s relationship dynamics.

“While this entire situation has been blown out of proportion, it’s much different than what has been portrayed in public. They are just trying to navigate their new relationship in private,”a friend of the couple noted.

“People have tried to question the timeline. The truth is, Ariana and Ethan didn’t begin seeing each other until after both parties were separated, respectfully,”another insider mentioned.

Slater’s divorce from Lilly Jay was finalized mere weeks before the news of his relationship with Ariana Grande broke. The Broadway actor and Jay had been married since November 2018. Grande’s recent remarks defending Slater’s integrity come following the conclusion of his divorce, providing context for her rebuttal of false narratives.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are both set to star in the eagerly awaited Wicked movie adaptation, with Part One scheduled for release on November 22, 2024, and Part Two set for November 21, 2025.

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