Ariana Grande's new love eclipses 'Wicked' premiere buzz
In July, Ariana Grande's romance with her co-worker from the movie "Wicked," Ethan Slater, came to light while both were still in their marriages. Their controversial relationship overshadowed the upcoming premiere of the highly anticipated film.
In July 2023, Ariana Grande separated from her husband, Dalton Gomez, after two years of marriage. In the same month, Ethan Slater filed for divorce from Lilly Jay, his high school sweetheart, with whom he has a two-year-old son. Grande's divorce was finalized in March, and Slater's in September.
Lilly Jay commented on the situation to PageSix, stating that her family was treated as "collateral damage," and Grande "is not a girl's girl." According to a source, Jay was completely surprised by her husband's affair with the singer. "They were definitely cheating … Ethan’s wife found texts between them flirting. Ariana even met the baby a couple of times while they were both married," the source reports.
Preparations for the film's premiere
Despite the controversy, the couple is preparing for the "Wicked" premiere, which will be in Canadian theatres on December 6. Grande plays the role of Glinda, and Slater portrays Boq. They were seen together and openly affectionate at the New York film premiere at the Museum of Modern Art.
"He's always that adorable and he's so amazing in this film. He's such an amazing person," Grande told Entertainment Tonight.
In a September interview with Vanity Fair, Grande addressed the rumours about the affair. "The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it," the singer admitted.
Ethan Slater, known for his role in "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical," appears happy alongside Grande. The couple was spotted together at the "Saturday Night Live" after-party and the premiere in Sydney, where Slater helped Grande with her dress.
"You work so hard to advance your career. You sacrifice time and make many sacrifices, and people take it away from you so quickly. I could see it for them [long term]. I don’t think this is a PR move that ‘this will help my career if I date the other one.’ There’s something there," a source close to Slater told The Post. Although Grande and Slater's romance causes controversy, it draws attention before the premiere of one of the year's most anticipated film productions.
