Ariana Grande and Wicked co-star boyfriend Ethan Slater end their relationship after being together for three years.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Reportedly Split After Three Years Together

Three years passed while they built something side by side across two Wicked films. According to TMZ, Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater split was amicable, with the former couple still keeping in touch through occasional conversations.

It’s not like Lily Allen pouring her heart out in her music after splitting from David Harbour. Apparently, Ariana’s next album, Petal, isn’t about her breakup.

People report they actually ended things a few months ago, keeping it quiet. That lines up with what people were already whispering—busy schedules just made it tough for them.

Ariana Grande Lyric Change Fueled Engagement Rumors Before Split

The Sun reached out to Ethan’s and Ariana’s teams for comment. Over the weekend, people thought Ariana settled the rumors on the opening night of her Eternal Sunshine Tour. During her song “Thank U, Next,” she tweaked the lyrics from “Only wanna do it once, real bad” to “twice,” flashing two fingers and laughing while she sang. Fans went absolutely ballistic. Now, though, it turns out she was just teasing.

Ariana and Ethan’s relationship got backlash immediately.

Ethan’s split from his wife of five years, Lilly Jay, was messy—and happened just a year after their son Ezra was born. People started whispering that Ethan and Ariana got together on the set of Wicked while Ethan was still married. But friends close to Ariana say Ethan and Lilly had already been apart for a couple of months by then.

Lilly spoke out and didn’t hold back. “Ariana’s the story, really. Not a girl’s girl,” she said. “My family is just collateral damage… The story is her and Dalton.” She went on, “Days with my son are sunny. Days when I can’t escape the promotion of a movie tied to the saddest days of my life are darker.”

Ariana Grande Stands by Ethan Slater After Public Criticism

Back in 2023, New York became home for Ethan and Ariana—though her divorce still hung unfinished. Not long after, voices rose against Ethan over how things fell apart before. Then came 2024, a Vanity Fair chat where Ariana stepped in, words firm beside his name. Criticism met resistance, not with shouts, but with calm defense printed across pages.

She said, “No one on this earth tries harder or spreads himself thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about.”

She also opened up about how tough all the backlash was. “The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she said.