Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater keep fans guessing about relationship at Wicked premiere

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have continued to fuel speculation they’ve split after keeping their distance at the Wicked: For Good premiere.

In 2023, news broke that the Wicked co-stars had started dating. Although the couple claimed they were each single at the time – they were seemingly accused of cheating by his ex.

When their romance was first reported, Ariana had not long divorced ex-husband Dalton Gomez, while Ethan’s long-term relationship with his high school sweetheart, clinical psychologist Lilly Jay, broke down around the same time.

Although the pair rarely spoke about their relationship, she previously defended Ethan against claims he abandoned his wife and their young son.

However, in recent months, it seems they’ve quietly split, with the last photo they shared together on social media being back in January. They also haven’t been seen together since April.

Overnight, the Wicked sequel had its European premiere in London. While the actors attended alongside co-stars including Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, and Jeff Goldblum, they stayed far away from each other and didn’t pose for any photos together aside from full cast shots.

After the event, Ariana, 32, also went to a dinner in Mayfair with her family; however, Ethan, 33, was notably absent.

Despite this, just a few days ago, Ethan did share photos of Ariana performing during the Wicked: One Wonderful Night special event.

But, earlier this month, a source claimed the couple had been ‘on and off for most of this year’.

‘He chose not to attend the MTV VMAs with her because they’d had an argument just days before. But they made up soon after. They’ve both been running hot and cold with each other,’ they said.

When the pair met in 2022 on the set of Wicked, they’d both been in long-term relationships.

Soon after their relationship was made public, Lilly issued a scathing statement that ripped into Ariana following the breakdown of her marriage.

‘[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl,’ she told Page Six.

‘My family is just collateral damage.’

‘I am focused on rebuilding a life for our son. This is what I am trying to do, and this is my only focus,’ she added.

The following year, Ariana hit back at speculation that her relationship with Ethan started as an affair.

‘It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids. 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,’ she told Vanity Fair.

She went on: ‘The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it. That was definitely a tough ride.’

Praising her partner, Ariana then said that ‘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 tabloid can rewrite in real life.’

A few weeks later, he also spoke about his relationship with Ariana in an interview with GQ.

‘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. 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,’ he said.

Referencing the release of the first Wicked film, he added: ‘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.’

At the film’s premiere, the pair were photographed embracing several times, later also sharing photos on social media watching the movie together with their loved ones.

In January this year, they attended the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala in New York City, locking arms while on stage.

That same month Ariana received an Oscar nomination for her work Wicked, with Ethan sharing a photo and caption gushing about her achievement.

During the awards ceremony two months later, he was also spotted holding back tears watching her and Cynthia perform on stage.

Despite questions about their relationship status, the pair have continued to show support for each other and like every post they share on social media.

Last week Wicked: For Good, which is released on November 21, had its global premiere in São Paulo, Brazil, with early reviews of the film calling it an ‘emotional gut punch’ that was a ‘epic and heartbreakingly tender conclusion’.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Comments


Add as preferred source