Romance and controversy: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's 'Wicked' affair
In July, Ariana Grande's romance with her co-worker from the film "Wicked," Ethan Slater, came to light while both were still married. Their controversial relationship overshadowed the upcoming premiere of the long-awaited film.
In July 2023, Ariana Grande separated from her husband, Dalton Gomez, after two years of marriage. In the same month, Ethan Slater filed for divorce from Lilly Jay, his high school sweetheart, with whom he has a two-year-old son. Grande's divorce was finalised in March, and Slater's in September.
Lilly Jay commented on the situation for PageSix, stating that her family was treated as "collateral damage," and Grande "is not a girl's girl." According to a source, Jay was completely surprised by her husband's affair with the singer. "They were definitely cheating … Ethan’s wife found texts between them flirting. Ariana even met the baby a couple of times while they were both married," the source reports.
Preparations for the film's premiere
Despite the controversy, the couple is preparing for the premiere of the movie Wicked, which will be in UK cinemas on 6th December. Grande plays the role of Glinda, and Slater portrays Boq. At the New York film premiere at the Museum of Modern Art, they were seen together and were open about their affections.
"He's always that adorable and he's so amazing in this film. He's such an amazing person," Grande told Entertainment Tonight.
In a September interview with Vanity Fair, Grande addressed the rumours about the affair. "The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it," the singer admitted.
Ethan Slater, known for his role in "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical," seems happy alongside Grande. The couple was spotted together at the "Saturday Night Live" after-party and the premiere in Sydney, where Slater helped Grande with her dress.
"You work so hard to advance your career. You sacrifice time and make many sacrifices, and people take it away from you so quickly. I could see it for them [long term]. I don’t think this is a PR move that ‘this will help my career if I date the other one.’ There’s something there," a source close to Slater told The Post. Although Grande and Slater's romance stirs controversy, it draws attention before the premiere of one of the most anticipated film productions of the year.
