A Recap of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s Very ‘Toxic’ Romance
Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande’s relationship is the talk of the town at the moment, and not in a good way. To be fair, though, the couple’s romance has always been pretty controversial. Fans and foes have been waiting for the duo to call it quits for months, and Slater’s absence from the VMAs in September has spurred rumors that the couple’s show-mance has hit a rough patch. Insiders are also coming out in droves, calling the couple “toxic” and alleging that Slater is threatened by his girlfriend’s success. While we wait for the pair to officially announce a breakup or show a sign that they are still together, let’s take a look back at their history. It’s pretty complicated.
How did Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater meet?
Ariana Grande has something of a reputation for getting involved with partnered men. Her relationship with Ethan Slater started in much the same way as several of her other romances. She met the then-married Slater in 2022, when they were both cast in the film adaptation of Wicked. They spent plenty of time together on set, which led to a romance, though neither was single at the time.
Grande was married to Dalton Gomez when she landed the role, and things appeared to be going fine for the duo. In mid-2023, Grande filed for divorce from Gomez, though she claims the split happened months earlier. Slater filed for divorce from his wife, with whom he had welcomed a baby a year earlier.
Have their exes ever spoken on the topic?
Ariana Grande has spoken openly about the relationship, regularly defending Ethan Slater’s character in 2024. According to the New York Post, she insisted that she “rejects” the negative narrative around how their relationship came to be. She has also deftly refused to speak about the many men she dated who were deeply involved in serious relationships in the months leading up to their romance. The public and media have apparently largely forgotten how the romance started, too. Grande’s team has managed to spin the narrative so effectively that the entire world seemingly forgot how the relationship started.
Lilly Jay, Ethan Slater’s ex-wife, however, has not forgotten. In 2023, she spoke out about how quickly her ex-partner moved on, despite his own team trying to claim that they were already separated. Jay spoke to Page Six after news of the costars’ dating broke, insisting that her family was “collateral damage.” She and Slater had been high school sweethearts, marrying in 2018. In more recent years, she’s been open about how the scandal impacted her life and work as a psychologist in private practice.
Dalton Gomez has been completely quiet since the split. According to OK Magazine, he doesn’t have much of a choice. The publication has revealed that Gomez and Grande signed a confidentiality clause when they settled their divorce. Neither can talk about the marriage or their former spouse.
Where does the couple stand today?
Since the initial fallout of their early romance, Grande and Slater have settled into a partnership. Several outlets are suggesting the duo has been living together for some time. Still, rumors are swirling that they’ve quietly separated, so as not to draw more attention to their controversial romance. TikTok rumors suggest the couple have been on and off for months, with the relationship turning “toxic.”
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater certainly are keeping a much lower profile, both in public and on social media. They haven’t been featuring each other on Instagram. Slater’s absence from the Video Music Awards in September led to even more speculation. What that means is anyone’s guess, though. More speculation is sure to come as Grande and Slater’s next big project is set to premiere in November.
