Highlights
- Ariana Grande and her husband Dalton Gomez have decided to separate after two years of marriage, realizing they weren't compatible as a couple.
- Grande is allegedly now romantically involved with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, who recently ended his marriage with his high school sweetheart and mother of his child, Lilly Jay.
- Gomez is reportedly devastated by the split and still hopes for a reconciliation with Grande, as he had envisioned a lifelong commitment with her.
On July 16, 2023, people noticed that Ariana Grande was seen at Wimbledon without wearing her wedding ring. An insider later informed Entertainment Tonight that Grande and her husband of two years, Dalton Gomez, decided to go their separate ways. The source mentioned that they ultimately realized they weren't compatible as a couple.
Shortly after the news broke, another source confirmed to ET that the music superstar and her co-star from Wicked, Ethan Slater, were allegedly romantically involved. Earlier in March, a photo had circulated showing Grande and Slater standing close to each other while celebrating Michelle Yeoh's Oscar win in London.
According to the source, their relationship had recently started, and only began dating after they had both ended their previous relationships. Although reports suggest that Grande and Slater's respective breakups were amicable, sources from their previous partners' side assert a different perspective on the situation.
Ethan Slater Abruptly Broke Up With His College Sweetheart, Lilly Jay, Before Dating Ariana Grande
Ethan Slater gained fame for his portrayal of SpongeBob in the Broadway musical, SpongeBob SquarePants. His performance even earned him a Tony Award nomination in 2018.
Slater married his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, in November 2018. In November 2022, he shared an anniversary tribute to his wife on Instagram, calling her his best friend and expressing their joy after four years of marriage and a decade together. Interestingly, Ariana Grande liked his post.
The couple welcomed their first child in 2022 and in January 2023, Slater proudly posted the first public photo of their son wearing a cute onesie with the words "Wicked Cute." It's not clear when Slater and Jay decided to separate, especially given their long relationship since 2012.
However, reports about Slater's new romance with Grande have reportedly blindsided his wife, Lilly Jay. According to sources, she has been shocked by the news and is deeply upset, considering they were high school sweethearts and have a child together. "It's horrible. They were high school sweethearts. They have a baby! She’s a wreck."
According to Page Six, there have been speculations that Slater's connection with Grande might be a factor in his sudden breakup with Jay, even though there seemed to be no visible issues in their marriage. People close to her describe her as devastated by the sudden breakup and unexpected events. "She's doing her best to get back on her feet. She's incredibly smart and driven" and "she is truly the best mother."
At this time, neither Grande not Slater have confirmed their romance despite endless media speculation.
How Did Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater Meet?
It is believed that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater first met while working together on the set of the movie adaptation of Wicked, which began filming in late 2022. In the movie, Grande will be playing the role of Glinda, while Slater, will portray Boq, the love interest of Elphaba's sister Nessarose.
After the news of Ariana Grande's split from Dalton Gomez surfaced, it was revealed that she had already started a new relationship with her Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater, who was also married. According to an insider from E! News, Grande and Slater began dating recently. "Ariana and Dalton separated in January. She and Ethan recently began dating, and he is separated from his wife."
Regarding Grande's breakup with Gomez, a source confirmed that the decision was due to the couple not being a good match. However, it's unclear exactly when Grande and Slater's romance started. Another source clarified that the pop star and Slater only began dating after both had ended their respective relationships with their significant others. They share common interests and have a lot of fun together, which seems to have brought them closer.
How Did Ariana Grande's Ex-Husband, Dalton Gomez React To Her Rebound Relationship With Ethan Slater?
Following her separation from her estranged husband Dalton Gomez, Ariana Grande has reportedly found a new romance with Ethan Slater. Allegedly, her split with Gomez was amicable, and they have been working on maintaining a friendly relationship since.
According to People, one of the contributing factors to Grande and Gomez's breakup was the long-distance strain caused by the pop star’s work on the Wicked movie in England, while Gomez's career as a luxury real estate agent kept him in Los Angeles. Despite their efforts, the challenges of a long-distance marriage became too much to overcome.
TMZ reported that divorce documents have yet to be filed, but their romantic relationship had ended earlier in the year. Sources also reveal that although the relationship didn't work out, Grande still speaks highly of Gomez and acknowledges his unwavering support during their marriage.
While Ariana Grande seems to be moving on, Gomez is reportedly having a tough time accepting the reality of the situation. According to TMZ, the differences between them became more apparent after COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were lifted, and Grande’s celebrity status presented challenges for Gomez.
"He had not dealt with her schedule, the paparazzi, and the various opportunities that took her out of LA." The source also mentioned that the realtor struggled with the fact that Grande needed to have security accompany her whenever they left the house. Despite their separation, Gomez is still hopeful of a possible reconciliation with Grande.
As for Grande's new relationship with Ethan Slater, it began shortly after her split from Gomez. Neither Grande nor Slater has addressed the rumors about their relationship, but it is reported that Gomez is heartbroken over their separation. "Dalton has been devastated by it," an insider told Us Weekly. "A separation is not what he's wanted. He wanted the fairy tale, happy ending, and it’s not looking that way."
Despite being accused of acting single before his split from Grande, Gomez is reportedly not over the pop star and would like to win her back, as he had envisioned spending his life with her.
According to a report by BuzzFeed, "Dalton is really hoping to make things work with Ariana. Despite the rocky patches they've been through, he isn't ready to give up on their marriage. He saw himself spending the rest of his life with Ariana and will do anything to get past this."
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