Things between Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are getting “serious.”
After meeting on the set of the upcoming movie adaptation of Wicked, the costars developed a romance offscreen.
Their relationship was first confirmed by PEOPLE in July 2023 and began after Grande’s separation from her then-husband, Dalton Gomez, and Slater’s separation from his then-wife, Lilly Jay.
“[Ariana] loves being with [Ethan],” a source told PEOPLE in December 2023. “It’s a very normal relationship.”
Slater and Grande made their relationship Instagram official in November 2024. The image, taken backstage at the Australia premiere of Wicked, showed Slater chivalrously carrying the train of Grande’s gown.
Here’s a complete timeline of Grande and Slater’s relationship.
December 2022: Ethan Slater joins the cast of Wicked alongside Ariana Grande
While Grande joined the cast of Wicked in November 2021, Slater’s role wasn’t confirmed until a year later in early December 2022. Grande stars as Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba, while Slater will be playing Boq, the love interest of Elphaba’s sister Nessarose who is infatuated with Glinda.
December 7, 2022: Director Jon M. Chu confirms Wicked has begun filming
The same day Slater’s casting for Wicked was announced, the film’s director Jon M. Chu confirmed that filming had officially began on the project.
March 27, 2023: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater attend Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar party
In March 2023, Grande and Slater were photographed together as they attended their costar Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar party. In an Instagram gallery shared by Yeoh, Grande and Slater were seen sitting beside each other at a table alongside Erivo.
May 15, 2023: Ariana Grande celebrates her second wedding anniversary with Dalton Gomez
Two months after attending Yeoh’s Oscar party, Grande posted a rare photograph of herself with her husband Dalton Gomez as she celebrated their 2-year wedding anniversary.
Alongside a “2” — their years as husband and wife — with a heart and the phrase “3.5 together” — their years as a couple — both written on top of the pic, Grande wrote: “I love him so.”
May 31, 2023: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater film a Wicked scene together
Later that month, Grande and Slater were photographed on set together as they filmed a scene as their characters Glinda and Boq.
July 17, 2023: A source confirms to PEOPLE that Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez have split
In July, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that Grande and Gomez had separated earlier in the year and had “been quietly and lovingly working on their friendship” since.
July 20, 2023: A source confirms to PEOPLE that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are dating
Just a few days later, sources confirmed to PEOPLE that Grande was in a relationship with Slater. A source told PEOPLE that the relationship was fairly new, following Grande’s split from Gomez in January and Slater’s separation from his wife Lilly Jay.
Slater and Jay married in November 2018 and in January 2023, Slater revealed that he and Jay had welcomed their first child, a son, by sharing a photo of a onesie that read “Wicked Cute.”
July 26, 2023: Ethan Slater reportedly files for divorce from his wife Lilly Jay
After news of his relationship with Grande went public, Slater filed for divorce in New York on July 26, per TMZ. The reason for his split from Jay was not listed.
A day after Slater filed for divorce, Jay broke her silence on her estranged husband’s relationship with Grande, noting that her main focus was on being “a good mom” to her and Slater’s child amid her divorce.
September 4, 2023: Sources tell PEOPLE that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are trying to balance their relationship in the public eye
In early September, multiple sources gave PEOPLE insight into Grande and Slater’s relationship, revealing how they were navigating their romance in the public eye.
“While this entire situation has been blown out of proportion, it’s much different than what has been portrayed in public,” a friend of the couple told PEOPLE. “They are just trying to navigate their new relationship in private.”
“People have tried to question the timeline,” a close family friend noted of the relationship between the pop star and the Tony nominee. “The truth is, Ariana and Ethan didn’t begin seeing each other until after both parties were separated, respectfully.”
September 18, 2023: Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez file for divorce
Months after their separation was announced, Grande filed for divorce from Gomez on Sept. 18, with Gomez filing a response immediately following, PEOPLE confirmed.
At the time, a source told PEOPLE that Grande and Gomez were “taking their time together to slowly work through the details of the agreement privately,” adding, “They’ve been really caring and respectful of one another through every step of this process.”
Calling the split “kind and patient,” the source told PEOPLE both Grande and Gomez have “moved on.”
September 2023: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater go to a Disney Park together
On Sept. 25, photos surfaced of Grande and Slater visiting a Disney Park together, marking one of their first public appearances as a couple.
“They went with a big group of friends as well her mom and brother and are really happy and really good for each other. All of her friends love him,” a source close to Grande told PEOPLE.
October 31, 2023: Ariana Grande supports Ethan Slater at Spamalot show
On Halloween night, Grande stepped out in N.Y.C. to see Slater perform in Broadway’s Spamalot. The singer was seen leaving the St. James Theater with her Playbill and a Spamalot paper crown in hand.
December 23, 2023: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater step out for dinner in New York City
The couple grabbed dinner with Grande’s dad, Ed Butera, at an Italian restaurant in N.Y.C. before Slater’s 7:30 p.m. Spamalot performance.
“They love to support each other in their work,” a source told PEOPLE. “When she’s done with work, Ariana loves going to the theater when she can.”
November 4, 2024: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater make their relationship Instagram official
Following the Wicked premiere in Australia, Grande posted her first photo with Slater on Instagram. The image, which Slater was tagged in, captured the actor carrying the train of Grande’s pink gown as they both descended a flight of stairs.
Source: People
