Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater, the duo set to star in the upcoming 2024 musical fantasy “Wicked,” are no longer keeping their romance under wraps.
Spotted in New York City ahead of Christmas, the couple, accompanied by Grande’s father, Ed Butera, and other family members, enjoyed a meal at the family’s favorite Italian restaurant before attending Slater’s Broadway performance in “Spamalot.”
According to a source close to the couple, they actively support each other’s work, frequently attending each other’s performances. The source revealed that Grande, after completing her work commitments, loves visiting the theater, showcasing her support for Slater, whom she began dating in the summer.
Grande previously attended Slater’s opening performance in “Spamalot” during the fall, demonstrating her enthusiastic backing for the production. The couple first crossed paths while filming “Wicked” in December of the previous year, a period when both were still married—Grande to her now-ex-husband Dalton Gomez and Slater to his wife Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a one-year-old son named London.
While Grande’s marriage with Gomez ended amicably, Jay faced challenges coping with her separation from Slater. Alleging that Grande wasn’t a “girl’s girl” and that her family suffered as “collateral damage” in the alleged affair, Jay voiced her concerns. Slater filed for divorce from Jay in July, with sources indicating that the actor initiated his relationship with Grande two months before officially separating from his wife. The source emphasized that Grande and Slater did nothing wrong, despite the emotional fallout.
In “Wicked,” Grande takes on the role of Glinda Upland/Glinda the Good, while Slater portrays the character Boq, setting the stage for their on-and-off-screen chemistry to unfold in this highly anticipated musical fantasy.
