5 Shocking Revelations And The Full Timeline Of Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater’s Whirlwind Romance

The relationship between pop superstar Ariana Grande and Broadway actor Ethan Slater continues to dominate headlines, especially as the world anticipates their on-screen debut in the *Wicked* film adaptation. As of today, December 18, 2025, the couple remains a highly-buzzed-about pair in Hollywood, confirming they are still together despite persistent breakup rumors and intense public scrutiny.

Their romance, which began amidst the complex backdrop of two simultaneous divorces, has been one of the most talked-about celebrity stories of the past two years. From a quiet onset during filming to their recent public displays of affection at *Wicked* promotional events, here is the deep dive into the full timeline, the biographical profiles, and the latest updates on the couple who met as Glinda and Boq.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater: Complete Biography Profiles

The foundation of this controversial romance lies in the lives and careers of two highly successful performers. Their professional paths intertwined on the set of the highly-anticipated *Wicked* movie, where Grande plays Glinda and Slater plays Boq.

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Ariana Grande-Butera

• Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
• Date of Birth: June 26, 1993
• Age (as of 2025): 32
• Birthplace: Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
• Key Career Highlights:
  • Began career in 2008 in the Broadway musical *13*.
  • Rose to fame as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s *Victorious* (2010–2013) and *Sam & Cat* (2013–2014).
  • Grammy-winning pop star with a four-octave vocal range.
  • Major hits include “The Way,” “Problem,” “Thank U, Next,” and “7 Rings.”
  • Cast as Glinda in the two-part film adaptation of the musical *Wicked*.

Ethan Samuel Slater

• Full Name: Ethan Samuel Slater
• Date of Birth: June 2, 1992
• Age (as of 2025): 33
• Birthplace: Washington, D.C., U.S.
• Key Career Highlights:
  • Graduate of Vassar College.
  • Best known for his Tony-nominated performance as the title character in *SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical* (2016).
  • Also appeared on Broadway in the revival of *Assassins*.
  • Cast as Boq, the Munchkin who is in love with Glinda, in the *Wicked* film adaptation.

The Relationship Timeline: From Co-Stars to Couple

The timeline of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s relationship is crucial to understanding the public reaction, as it coincided with the end of both of their previous marriages. The relationship began after they met while working on the *Wicked* movie, which started filming in London in late 2022.

December 2022: Filming for *Wicked* begins in London. Ariana Grande’s marriage to luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez was reportedly already facing challenges due to the long distance.

July 2023: The news breaks that Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez have separated after two years of marriage. Shortly after, a source confirms that Grande is dating her *Wicked* co-star, Ethan Slater.

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July 2023 (Cont.): Public reports surface that Ethan Slater had filed for divorce from his wife, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a young child. Slater and Jay were high school sweethearts who married in 2018.

October 2023: Ariana Grande officially files for divorce from Dalton Gomez, citing "irreconcilable differences." The divorce was finalized quickly, reportedly due to a prenuptial agreement.

Late 2024/Early 2025: Both divorces are legally finalized. Grande agrees to a one-time payment of $1.25 million to Gomez as part of the settlement. Meanwhile, Lilly Jay begins to speak publicly about the emotional fallout of her divorce.

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November 2025: The couple is seen together at various promotional events for *Wicked*, including a photocall and the Los Angeles premiere, showing subtle but clear public displays of affection (PDA), such as Grande adjusting Slater's bow tie. This marks a new phase of their relationship being openly acknowledged.

The Fallout: Divorces, Settlements, and Public Scrutiny

The most compelling and controversial aspect of this celebrity pairing is the speed and proximity of their respective marital breakdowns. The public narrative was heavily influenced by the perspectives of their former spouses: Dalton Gomez and Lilly Jay.

The Million-Dollar Divorce: Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez's divorce was finalized with surprising swiftness. The key detail that emerged was the financial settlement. Grande was required to pay Gomez a significant, non-spousal support lump sum.

• Settlement Amount: Grande paid Dalton Gomez a one-time, tax-free payment of $1,250,000.
• Property: Gomez agreed to move out of their shared home, and he received half of the net proceeds from the sale of their former residence.
• Legal Fees: Grande also agreed to pay up to $25,000 of Gomez's attorney's fees.

The amicable nature of the settlement, largely attributed to their prenup, allowed both parties to move on quickly, though the timeline raised eyebrows given Grande's simultaneous new relationship with her co-star.

Lilly Jay’s Heartbreak and The 'Blindsided' Narrative

The fallout from Ethan Slater's divorce from his wife, Lilly Jay, was far more public and emotionally charged. Jay, who had been with Slater for over a decade and had recently welcomed a child, gave several interviews detailing her experience.

Jay openly stated that she felt "blindsided" by the divorce and the subsequent news of Slater's relationship with Grande. She described the period as "dark" and spoke about the difficulty of escaping the story, given the high-profile nature of the other parties involved. Her reflection on the end of her marriage, including feeling that she "didn't understand" the growing distance between them, provided a stark contrast to the quiet finality of Grande's divorce.

This public outpouring from Lilly Jay cemented a narrative of co-star chemistry leading to personal upheaval, placing enormous pressure on the new couple. The intense media scrutiny has been a constant entity in the background of Grande and Slater’s burgeoning relationship.

Future Focus: Wicked and Beyond

With both divorces behind them, the focus for Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater has shifted entirely to their professional collaboration and their private life as a couple. They have successfully wrapped filming on both parts of the *Wicked* movie, where their on-screen chemistry as Glinda and Boq is highly anticipated.

Ethan Slater has publicly praised Grande, calling her "out of this world" in her role, highlighting the professional respect that initially brought them together. Their shared experience on the demanding set, alongside co-star Cynthia Erivo, helped to forge a bond that transcended their characters.

Despite the initial controversy and the continuous flow of gossip, the couple has maintained a relatively low profile, choosing to make their first major public appearances together at the *Wicked* premieres. This calculated approach suggests a move toward normalizing their relationship as they step into the next phase of their careers. As the release date for the first *Wicked* film approaches, the world will be watching to see if their off-screen romance can weather the storm of public opinion and the demands of Hollywood.