Who Is Ethan Slater? Meet the ‘Wicked’ Actor Amid Ariana Grande Romance: Marriage and More

Moving on wicked fast. News of Ariana Grande’s split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez broke in July 2023, despite the former couple quietly separating earlier that year. The “Thank U, Next” artist later moved on with her Wicked costar Ethan Slater.

When Did Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez Split?

The pair were first linked in early 2020, after being spotted out and about in Los Angeles. He went on to star in Ariana’s music video for her song with Justin Bieber, “Stuck With U.”

Their whirlwind romance peaked after just nine months when they announced their engagement via Instagram as Ariana showed off her diamond with the caption, “Forever n then some.” After tying the knot in May 2021, the pair lead a mostly quiet life. However, just two years later, rumors began swirling that the lovebirds had called it quits. 

“They were having issues before she left for Wicked filming [in London] that they couldn’t resolve,” a source told Us Weekly in July. “The distance did not help. They haven’t been speaking and are separated, and a divorce is likely.”

Ariana and Dalton both filed for divorce on September 18, 2023, according to court records viewed by In Touch. The Wicked star cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their breakup and listed their date of separation as February 20, 2023, TMZ reported at the time. They reportedly had a prenup and “everything was worked out” prior to the filings.

Ariana and Dalton’s divorce was finalized in March 2024.

When Did Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Meet?

The “Save Your Tears” singer met Ethan on the set of the film adaptation of Wicked, which premiered on November 22, 2024. While Ariana is set to play Glinda, Ethan was cast as Boq, Elphaba’s sister Nessarose’s love interest. The film began shooting in December 2022 in the U.K.

Is Ethan Slater Married?

The SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical star married his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, in November 2018. 

Shortly before leaving to film the Wizard of Oz prequel, Ethan and Lilly celebrated their four-year wedding anniversary. 

“My best friend. 4 years married, 10 years together,” he captioned a series of photos with his estranged wife in November 2022. “And this is easily the best (and most *bizarre*) year yet.”

In January ​2023, Ethan announced via Instagram that he and Lilly had welcomed their first child together in 2022. He called Lilly “the most loving caring and wonderful mom” in a sweet Mother’s Day tribute in May.

Ethan filed for a contested divorce from Lilly, in court records viewed by In Touch, on July 26, 2023. The divorce was finalized in September 2024.

Are Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Dating?

Rumors that Ariana and Ethan were dating began in March 2023 when a source told The Daily Mail that they were “all over each other” at Michelle Yeoh‘s Oscars party. The pair remained quiet about their relationship for several months, although they faced scrutiny from the public due to the timing of their splits from their spouses.

Ariana and Ethan did not immediately respond to In Touch’s request for comment. 

Lilly broke her silence on Ariana and Ethan’s rumored relationship in a statement on July 27, 2023. “[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl,” she reportedly told Page Six. “My family is just collateral damage. … The story is her and Dalton [Gomez].”

Ariana and Ethan confirmed their romance by making their first public appearance together at Disney World on September 22, 2023. A source exclusively told In Touch two months later that Ari was “in love” with her boyfriend and had decided to move in with him.

“She figures why wait,” the insider said. “Yes, it’s fast, but that’s how Ariana operates — she jumps into things. [Ethan] and Ariana never looked back. They can’t wait to live together.”

Ariana admitted to Vanity Fair in September 2024 that it “definitely doesn’t get any easier” to see the “negativity” surrounding her relationship. However, she explained that the narrative about her and Ethan is not completely accurate.

“The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she continued. “That was definitely a tough ride. There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about [Ethan]. No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart, and that is something that no bulls–t tabloid can rewrite in real life.”

What Else Has Ethan Slater Starred In?

Aside from his role in the film adaptation of Wicked, Ethan has appeared in episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Murphy Brown and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

While his film and television roles are few, he is perhaps best known for portraying the titular character in Broadway’s SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, including in the 2019 live television adaptation.