Who is Ethan Slater, Ariana Grande’s alleged love interest?
Ariana Grande hasn’t exactly split from husband Dalton Gomez and is planning a divorce. She is also reportedly moving in with a new man. His name is Ethan Slater, he’s 32 and she knows him from work. (Isn’t that always the case? Apparently even for celebrities.)
And while Slater stirred up a storm with Grande, he wasn’t exactly a household name before reports broke about their relationship Thursday morning TMZ.
Who is Ethan Slater — and when did he and Grande start dating? Here are a few key points about the man who could theoretically be the next Mr. Ariana Grande.
He’s a “bad” guy
Slater is Grande’s co-star in Wicked, playing Boq, a college friend of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Grande) and love interest of Nessarose (Marissa Bode). Production, with Part 1 currently slated to premiere in November 2024, began in the UK last Valentine’s Day
Grande and Gomez, whose split after two years of marriage was announced Monday, reportedly split in January (they wed in May 2021), leaving the “Thank U, Next” singer technically ready to start filming “Wicked.” was at large. And fair’s fair: Gomez dated him, too, TMZ said.
He married a beloved singer
Slater and singer Lilly Jay, a high school sweetheart, reportedly hooked up in 2012 Us weekly. The two moved to New York from Maryland in 2014, married in 2018 and had a baby boy together last year. Us said Slater and Jay appeared to be going strong last fall, based on an anniversary Instagram post in November, in which he wrote of her, “My best friend. Married 4 years, together 10 years. And this is by far the best (and *bizarre*) year yet.”
And now that’s apparently settled — but Grande and Slater “didn’t start dating until after they both split from their significant others,” a source said AND. The two had “recently” started dating, the source said, but page six reported that Slater could be seen with his arm around Grande in a photo taken at a Wicked casting party in March.
He has Broadway in his background
Slater received a Tony nomination for playing the title character in the Broadway musical version of SpongeBob SquarePants, which premiered in December 2017 and ran through September 2018. He and his actor friend Nick Blaemir also wrote the show Edge of the World. ‘, the soundtrack of which was released as a concept album in 2021. (This is not to be confused with the 2021 Movie Edge of the World starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Dominic Monaghan. Totally different.) Slater and Blaemir sing on all 13 tracks on the record.
“When young Ben and his father Henry move to a remote piece of land in rural Alaska on Edge of the World, Ben uses his imagination to come to terms with his new surroundings,” reads the show’s synopsis Broadway Records Website. “But as he learns more about the circumstances that led him into isolation, the line between lies and reality begins to blur. It is an inclusive, handcrafted fable about the world we are given and create for ourselves.”
Slater’s pronouns are he/he
Yes, “he/he” was right there on the screen in one of his pictures youtube videos. Now you know. Incidentally, he joined YouTube in 2012, the same year he and Jay started a romantic relationship.
Slater also has more than 84,000 followers on Instagram, although that hardly compares to Grande’s 377 million. Not that anyone new can drop by Slater’s IG without his permission: He made it private after news of his dating life went viral. Cheez – All Grande did this week was delete the pictures of her future ex-husband from her Instagram.
He and Grande may or may not be astrologically compatible
Slater is a twin. The grand sign is Cancer. Depending on your astrologer of choice, it might work – but it sounds like it might be challenging in the long run.
“These two signs approach the world in such different ways that they need to be able to understand and accept each other’s differences.” Astrology.com says, pointing out that the twins’ “chivalrous nature and silver tongue” could coax the “sensitive, emotional” Cancer out of their shell faster than usual. Geminis seem to want to get started on crazy things as soon as possible, while Cancers just want a hug from their sweetheart.
The website also hints that when the relationship ends for good, Slater will be the one to end her.
“While the two zodiac signs share a few laughs and have a great sense of humor,” he says pinkvilla“Their relationship would not be ideal. For although Gemini will be overwhelmed by Cancer’s humility and kindness, the Air sign yearns for freedom, which given Cancer’s clingy nature may never be found.”
Don’t blame the messenger – it’s the stars talking, folks.
