The “Wicked” stars had a “quiet breakup,” a source tells EW.
The two met on the set of the 2024 movie musical Wicked, in which she portrayed Glinda the Good. He took on the character of Boq, who transforms into the Tin Man, in the Wizard of Oz-inspired story.
Both split from their respective spouses at the time husband Dalton Gomez and wife Lilly Jay in July 2023.
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have reportedly ended their relationship after nearly two years together.
According to a source, the split was amicable and came after careful thought from both sides. “They gave lots of time and consideration to the decision and ultimately chose to go their separate ways,” the insider said, adding that the former couple remains friends and continues to support one another. The source also noted that they have been privately separated for several months.
Grande and Slater first met while filming the movie adaptation of Wicked, where Grande starred as Glinda and Slater portrayed Boq. Their relationship attracted significant public attention after both ended their marriages in 2023 Grande from real estate agent Dalton Gomez and Slater from his wife, Lilly Jay.
Despite intense media scrutiny, the pair frequently spoke warmly about each other. During the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked in November 2024, Grande praised Slater, calling him an “amazing person” and expressing happiness that audiences were getting to know him better.
Slater also publicly supported Grande, describing her performance in the film as incredible and saying he was proud to celebrate her success.
The reported breakup comes as Grande focuses on several major career projects. The singer is currently on her Eternal Sunshine tour, which recently began, and is preparing for the release of her upcoming album, Petal, scheduled for July 31.
In recent interviews, Grande has suggested that touring may become less frequent in the future as she explores different creative paths. She explained that she feels grateful to have opportunities beyond music and believes the next phase of her career may look very different from the last decade.
According to sources, Grande is doing well and remains focused on her music and professional commitments following the split.
