5 Shocking Revelations And The Full Timeline Of Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater’s ‘Wicked’ Romance
The relationship between pop superstar Ariana Grande and Broadway actor Ethan Slater has been one of the most intensely scrutinized and controversial celebrity pairings of the last two years. What began as an on-set friendship while filming the highly anticipated movie musical Wicked quickly escalated into a headline-making romance that involved two highly public divorces and the birth of a child, captivating and often dividing fans and the media alike. This deep-dive, updated for late 2025, uncovers the complete timeline, the lingering controversies, and the latest public steps the couple has taken to solidify their status in Hollywood.
As of late 2025, the couple has moved past the initial storm of controversy, making increasingly public appearances and showing rare affection at major events like the 2025 Oscars and the SAG Awards. Their journey, however, remains a complex narrative rooted in the production of the two-part film adaptation of the beloved Broadway phenomenon, which is set to finally hit theaters, keeping their professional and personal lives irrevocably intertwined.
Detailed Biography Profiles: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater
The core of this controversial romance is the intersection of two distinct, yet equally successful, entertainment careers. Understanding their individual paths provides context for the media frenzy that erupted in mid-2023.
Ariana Grande-Butera (Glinda)
- Born: June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
- Career Start: Began her professional career in 2008 at age 15 in the Broadway production of the musical 13.
- Breakthrough Role: Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon TV series Victorious (2010–2013) and its spin-off, Sam & Cat.
- Music Career: Burst onto the pop music scene in the early 2010s, becoming one of the world's most successful and highest-paid female artists.
- Major Awards: Multiple Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and a recent Academy Award nomination for her original song work.
- Net Worth (2025): Estimated to be between $230 million and $250 million.
- Role in Wicked: Glinda Upland, the good witch.
Ethan Samuel Slater (Boq)
- Born: June 2, 1992.
- Career Start: American actor, comedian, singer, writer, and composer.
- Breakthrough Role: Gained widespread recognition for playing the title character, SpongeBob SquarePants, in the 2016 Broadway musical SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, which earned him a Tony Award nomination.
- Music/Writing: Has released extended plays (EPs) titled Wanderer and Life Is Weird and has worked as a composer.
- Role in Wicked: Boq, a Munchkinlander who is in love with Glinda.
The ‘Wicked’ Set: A Timeline of the Relationship’s Controversial Beginnings
The timeline of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's romance is critical because of its overlap with their previous marriages. Both stars were married when filming for Wicked began in late 2022, a detail that fueled the intense media scrutiny and public backlash.
- Late 2022: Filming Begins. Production starts on the two-part film adaptation of Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu. Ariana Grande is married to luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez, and Ethan Slater is married to his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a newborn son.
- July 2023: The News Breaks. On July 17, news breaks that Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez have separated after two years of marriage. Almost immediately, reports emerge that Grande is dating Ethan Slater. TMZ is the first to report the news, casually noting that Slater was still married to Lilly Jay.
- July/August 2023: The Splits. Both Grande and Slater file for divorce from their respective partners. Sources close to the couple insist that both stars had separated from their spouses before the romance began, though the close timing of the events remains a point of contention.
- October 2023: Legal Finalization. Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez finalize their divorce.
- November 2024: Relationship Official. Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater make their relationship Instagram official, a quiet but significant step toward public acceptance.
The Aftermath: Lilly Jay’s Statement and 2025 Public Life
The biggest obstacle to the couple's acceptance was the fallout from Ethan Slater's marriage to Lilly Jay, which led to one of the most quoted celebrity statements of the year and continues to influence the public's perception of their romance.
The "Collateral Damage" Controversy
The controversy reached a peak when Ethan Slater's estranged wife, Lilly Jay, spoke out publicly. Her statement to Page Six was direct and immediately went viral, creating a major talking point about celebrity ethics and relationships.
- "Not a girl's girl": Jay famously stated that Ariana Grande was "not a girl's girl."
- "Collateral Damage": She heartbreakingly described her family as "just collateral damage" in the unfolding celebrity narrative, directly addressing the impact on their young child and their long-term relationship that began in high school.
- A Different Perspective: Later, Jay penned an open letter for The Cut where she did not name Grande or Slater, instead focusing on her own emotional journey and finding strength in the absence of the life she had planned.
The 2025 Public Appearances and Support
Despite the intense public scrutiny, 2025 marked a significant shift as the couple began to step out together at high-profile industry events, signaling a new, more public phase of their relationship.
- January 2025: National Board of Review Gala. Grande and Slater made an early 2025 appearance at The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala, showcasing their budding romance.
- February 2025: SAG Awards PDA. The couple showed "rare PDA" at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where Grande was nominated for her work in Wicked. A lip reader even claimed to reveal a sweet exchange between the two.
- March 2025: Oscars Red Carpet. Grande and Slater were seen showing "rare affection" at the 2025 Academy Awards, though reports also noted their separate arrivals, suggesting a continued effort to manage the public narrative.
- September 2025: VMAs Support. Despite rumors of relationship struggles, Ethan Slater shut down breakup speculation by showing his support for Ariana Grande at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, even though he did not attend.
The Future: ‘Wicked’ and Lasting Love
The next major milestone for the couple is the release of their film, Wicked: Part One, which is set to premiere on November 22, 2024. The film, which tells the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda's (Ariana Grande) friendship before the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, will forever be the backdrop of their romance.
Their on-screen dynamic—Glinda and Boq's unrequited love—will inevitably draw comparisons to their real-life journey, creating a unique meta-narrative for audiences. As they continue to navigate the complexities of their new life together, including co-parenting responsibilities and the intense glare of the celebrity spotlight, the couple appears focused on their professional careers, their new relationship, and the successful launch of a major Hollywood blockbuster that brought them together.
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