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As many Ariana Grande fans still digest the news that the pop songstress split up with her husband of two years, Dalton Gomez, it’s now revealed that the musician has moved on to a new relationship. Indeed, with the dust still settling on reports of Grande and Gomez’s separation—though it’s alleged the pair became estranged in January 2023—a new celebrity couple has emerged from the rubble.
As reported by TMZ and verified by People, Grande is currently dating Broadway alum Ethan Slater, an actor working alongside her for Jon M. Chu’s upcoming movie-musical adaptation of Wicked.
“Ariana and Dalton separated in January,” a source revealed to People. “She and Ethan recently began dating, and he is separated from his wife,” they continued.
Neither Slater nor Grande has addressed the reports, an expected move from the Grammy Award winner considering she hasn’t spoken about her separation either. But the pair were photographed together in a group setting alongside the star-studded ensemble.
For Wicked, both Slater and Grande had to relocate to England for the months-long production. Grande is starring in the production as Glinda (also known as the Good Witch in Wizard Of Oz), while Slater is portraying Boq, a Munchkinlandian who secretly harvests feelings for her. US Weekly also received intel on the relationship, divulging that “things are fairly new.”
“Ariana and Dalton split in January, and Ethan is separated from his wife,” they added. “Ariana and Ethan have only recently begun seeing each other, but they have a lot of fun together and are enjoying each other’s company.”
However, their relationship timeline does begin to get a little murky, with TMZ’s alleging the pair started dating “several months ago during production”. TMZ’s sources also stressed that the couple got together after ending their respective marriages.
Now, sources have shared Slater’s estranged wife’s perspective on the matter. Lilly Jay, who shares an 11-month-old son with Slater, is allegedly “devastated her family’s been torn apart” and feels her ex-husband “abandoned his family,” According to a TMZ source. The insider noted that Jay, who was highschool sweethearts with Slater, is mostly torn up over the fact that her young son “won’t have both his mum and dad around constantly.” The former couple apparently “aren’t on good terms now” because she feels he has “turned his back on his family” to be with his co-star.
Sources have refuted this, telling Page Six that the claims Slater abandoned his family are “completely untrue.”
If you’re curious to know more about the man who has captured Grande’s heart in the Emerald City, keep scrolling below for everything to know about Slater.
Who Is Ethan Slater?
Ethan Slater is an American Tony Award-nominated actor. He is 31 years old. For those interested in the astrological compatibility of the pair, Slater is a Gemini, the cusp house to Grande’s Cancer.
Slater is best known for his performance in the Broadway production of the SpongeBob SquarePants musical, leading the cast as the titular absorbent and porous Bikini Bottom fry cook. Slater was part of the musical’s original cast and the subsequent television adaptation, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.
While Slater and Grande both share a connection to Broadway, their similarities don’t end there with both actors fresh from a relationship. People have reported that Slater recently separated from his partner of ten years, Lily Jay.
Jay and Slater were high school lovers who began dating in 2012, before getting married in 2018 and welcoming their first and only child together, a son, in 2022.
In May, Grande and Slater shared public tributes to their respective spouses on Instagram, signalling that the relationship is fresh as claimed. Grande shared photos of herself and Gomez to celebrate their second wedding anniversary on May 16, while on May 12, Slater wished Jay a Happy Mother’s Day. Grande liked this post.
Entertainment Tonight also received similar intel, with a source explaining: “Ariana and Ethan recently started dating. They have a lot in common and have a lot of fun. They didn’t start dating until they were separated from their significant others. Ariana and Dalton remain friends.”
