Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Are Inseparable As They Make Their Hollywood Debut

Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater at the National Board of Review Gala held at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s relationship hasn’t been without its controversies, but nevertheless, the couple have put on a united front, ignoring the naysayers. And last night, they even made their public debut at the National Board of Review Gala in New York.

While the two have shared the spotlight throughout the Wicked press tour, and Grande made things Instagram-official the event marks the first time they’ve been snapped together showing PDA at a Hollywood event.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: (L-R) Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande attend The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for National Board of Review)

Grande, 31, and Slater, 32, only appeared in group photos on the red carpet together, but were happy to pose alone with each other once inside the gala, where they mingled with fellow A-listers like Kieran Culkin.

Ethan Slater, Ariana Grande at the National Board of Review Gala held at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)

Ariana Grande, Kieran Culkin, Ethan Slater at the National Board of Review Gala held at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)

On the step-and-repeat, they stoof for group photos with the cast of Wicked, including Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Erivo, director Jon M. Chu, Ryan Reynolds and producer David Nicksay.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 07: Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Jon M. Chu and David Nicksay winners of the Best Film Award for “Wicked,” and Ryan Reynolds pose during The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on January 07, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for National Board of Review)

Grande and Slater met on the set of Wicked, where, during production, Grande’s divorce from Dalton Gomez was finalised after two years of marriage. Meanwhile, Slater filed for divorce from his wife, Lilly Jay, whom he shares a child with, in July 2023.

In September 2024, Grande opened up about how the pair navigated the early days of their romance in the face of social media hate.

“The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she told Vanity Fair at the time. “That was definitely a tough ride.”

Referring to the rumours that Slater had ‘abandoned’ his wife and child for Grande, the singer admanently defended his character.

“There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,” she said, adding that she “will never go into certain details.”

“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people he loves and cares about,” she continued. “There is no one on this earth with a better heart, and that is something that no bullshit tabloid can rewrite in real life.”

In December 2024, Lilly Jay then penned an emotional essay for The Cut, where she explained her perspective on events that unfolded between her and Slater.