How Ethan Slater Celebrated Ariana Grande’s First Oscar Nomination
Ariana Grande has been very busy over the last few years as she released a new album and dedicated many months to filming the two-part film adaptation of the hit musical Wicked. While on set, she met co-star Ethan Slater, who plays the Munchkin Boq. Grande and Slater started off as friends and later fell in love.
Slater is a musical artist himself, though he’s known more for his Broadway performances, including a recent role on the revival of Spamalot. Grande and Slater have been supportive of each other over the last year, especially during their ongoing Wicked press tour. When Grande received her first Oscar nomination for her work in Wicked, Slater was prompt to pay tribute to his partner’s milestone.
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Get to know their relationship history so far, below.
December 2022
In late 2022, Wicked began filming in the U.K. When Grande was cast as Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, she was married to real estate developer Dalton Gomez. She and Slater met while working on the project, at which time the actor was married to his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay. Their first child was born in early 2022.
January 2023
Though it would be some months before the public would hear about it, Grande and Gomez split early in the new year, according to TMZ.
July 2023
The TMZ report about Grande’s breakup was released in July, and People confirmed it soon after. TMZ wrote that she and Gomez were 'heading toward divorce.'
Entertainment Tonight spoke with an insider, who revealed they had tried to reconcile, but their relationship no longer worked. 'Dalton went to Europe recently to be with Ariana and try to work things out between them,' the source said. 'But it just wasn’t working. They were having issues for a while, but they are trying to be as respectful as they can and protect each other’s privacy through this breakup.'
That same month, sources told People that Grande had 'recently' started dating Slater, who was also single after he and his partner broke up.
'Ariana and Dalton separated in January. She and Ethan recently began dating, and he is separated from his wife,' the source stated.
Another source told Us Weekly, 'Ariana and Ethan have only recently begun seeing each other, but they have a lot of fun together and are enjoying each other’s company.'
On July 26, Slater officially filed for divorce from Lilly Jay, as reported by Us Weekly.
September 2023
The new couple was spotted at Disney World in Orlando, walking hand-in-hand. An insider told the Daily Mail that Grande and Slater were living together in New York.
October 2023
Gomez and Grande settled their divorce in October.
'There is still a strong mutual love and respect between Ariana and Dalton, and they wanted to make sure everything was done right in lockstep with one another,' a source told TMZ.
A source confirmed to Us Weekly that Grande and Slater were living together.
'Ethan informed his friends and soon-to-be ex-wife [Lilly Jay] that he’s living with Ariana full-time in New York,' the source said. 'They’re really happy and really good for each other. All of her friends love him.'
On October 21, Grande and Slater were photographed at the Mandarin Oriental hotel sharing some PDA and wine. On Halloween, Grande attended the first preview of Slater’s Spamalot revival as a show of support. People reported that Grande had already seen tech rehearsals for the show and 'has plans to go again.'
'She was so sweet last night, taking pictures with fans and gushing about how much she was enjoying the performances,' an insider said. 'She’s a theatre kid at her core, so you see she really feels at peace being around Broadway.'
December 2023
In an Instagram carousel, Grande paid tribute to Slater with a Christmas tree can-of-Spam ornament:
A few days before Christmas, they were seen going out to dinner with Grande’s father. Just before the New Year, a source told People that Grande is 'serious' about Slater.
'She loves being with him,' the source said, adding, 'It’s a very normal relationship.'
Grande shared an Instagram story that same day addressing criticism of her relationship.
'I’ve never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me,' she wrote. 'I have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don’t know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life.'
January 2024
Grande’s first solo single 'Yes, And?' was released, and the lyrics seemed to similarly address people’s interest in her relationship with Slater.
'Don’t comment on my body, do not reply,' she sang. 'Your business is yours and mine is mine. Why do you care so much whose dick I ride?'
June 2024
In a rare public appearance, Grande and Slater were photographed at the Stanley Cup Finals at the Amerant Bank Arena in Florida. That same month, she released the music video for her new song 'The Boy Is Mine,' which featured a star-studded cast including Penn Badgley, Brandy, and Monica. Grande played Catwoman in the video who is in pursuit of Badgley’s Mayor Max Starling. The song is believed to be about Slater.
September 2024
Grande spoke to Vanity Fair about the tabloids’ inaccurate portrayal of her relationship with Slater. 'It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids,' she said of navigating her personal life over the years. 'Of course, I went through a lot of life changes during the filming of this movie. A lot of people that were working on it did. We were away for two years. So, of course, I understand why it was a field day for the tabloids to sort of create something that paid their bills.'
The 'popular narrative' those publications presented wasn’t what actually happened between her and Slater, she shared: 'The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it. That was definitely a tough ride.'
She praised Slater overall, saying, '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 bullshit tabloid can rewrite in real life.'
October 2024
Slater touched on Grande in his GQ interview, praising his girlfriend’s talent. 'Ari’s Ari, and she’s amazing,' he said of working with her. 'She’s a comedian who’s also got this crazy voice that can do anything.' He added, 'My unbiased opinion is that she’s one of the best comedians that’s been in a movie in a long time. She’s a genius.”'
He was also asked about the experience of falling in love with her while making Wicked. That’s where he touched on the changes in his own personal life during that period.
'Obviously, it was a really super big year, and I think there was something that was really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public,' he said. 'There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love. So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard.
'But, of course, it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing, 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.'
November 2024
Slater and Grande attended the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked together on November 9. At one point, Grande fixed Slater’s bow tie in front of photographers. The photos offered a rare moment of public affection between the private couple.
On November 14, they attended the New York premiere and embraced in front of the cameras while on the red carpet.
The couple later shared photos from their trip to Grande’s hometown, Boca Raton, Florida, where they viewed Wicked with her family, including her grandmother, Marjorie Grande. Slater took pics of the special moment.
On November 29, Grande shared a huge carousel of behind-the-scenes moments on the Wicked set, including an affectionate moment with Slater. In the final shot of the carousel, she added a grainy image in which she and Slater are embracing with actor Jonathan Bailey, who stars in the film as Fiyero.
All three are in costume, and Slater’s hand rests on her back as she wraps her arms around both their shoulders.
December 2024
On December 1, Grande and Slater took a photo with a fan while they were out shopping for a Christmas tree in New York City. A source 'familiar' with the couple spoke to Page Six about the excursion, saying, 'They are celebrating the success of Wicked and keeping things low-key as they enjoy the holiday season together.'
On December 4, Selena Gomez commented on an Instagram post about Grande's Vanity Fair interview from September, according to E!. In the interview, Grande criticised tabloid speculation on her relationship with Slater saying, 'It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids.' Selena commented on the post with five clapping emojis and wrote, 'AMEN.'
On December 17, Entertainment Tonight reported that Grande and Slater see themselves getting engaged someday. A source said, 'They’re continuing to appreciate and enjoy this moment, both professionally and personally. They think each other is "The One" but aren’t rushing towards an engagement, though that is something that they both see happening.'
On the same day, Grande commented on Slater’s new Instagram post, a carousel of stylised pictures taken for Schon! Magazine. Referencing the iconic comedian of early film days, she commented on the post: 'the Buster Keaton of today.'
She then added, '!! ♡'
January 2025
Grande and Slater had an affectionate moment at the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala in New York City. The couple sat next to each other during the awards show and Grande held his arm onstage:
On January 23, Grande received her first Oscar nomination: a nod for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Wicked. Slater fêted the news by sharing an Instagram of Grande holding a bouquet of pink balloons and staring out the window. She had Instagram open on her phone. He tagged her, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Wicked in the shot.
He also posted the words 'Oscar. Nominated. @arianagrande,' on his Instagram story.
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