You’ve seen the headlines. Probably saw the memes, too. It’s early 2026, and the internet still can’t quite decide if they’re rooting for or against Ariana Grande’s relationship with Ethan Slater. Some people call him "SpongeBob" because of his Tony-nominated Broadway past, while others are still dissecting the "home-wrecker" narratives that fueled the tabloids for the better part of two years.
But here is the thing. They are still together.
Despite a massive press tour for Wicked: For Good—where they often stood on opposite ends of the red carpet to keep the focus on the film—the pair is apparently "in a solid place." Actually, insiders are saying they’re more like an old married couple than a fresh Hollywood fling. They’re reportedly spending their nights playing board games and binge-watching shows in their shared New York space. Honestly, after the chaos of 2023 and 2024, a little boring is probably exactly what they want.
The Ethan Slater Timeline: Beyond the Scandal
People love a simple story. Girl meets boy, boy leaves wife, drama ensues. But the actual timeline of how Ethan Slater became the most talked-about Ariana Grande bf is a bit more tangled than the 30-second TikTok explainers suggest.
The two met on the set of Wicked in London back in late 2022. At the time, Ariana was married to real estate agent Dalton Gomez, and Ethan was with his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay. They were just coworkers—or so the official story goes. By January 2023, Ariana and Dalton had separated. Ethan’s marriage reportedly hit the skids around the same time, or shortly after. By the time the world found out they were dating in July 2023, the legal paperwork for two separate divorces was already flying.
📖 Related: Celebrities in their 90s: Why These Icons are Redefining What It Means to Age
Ariana didn't hold back on her album Eternal Sunshine. She practically dared people to keep talking with tracks like "Yes, And?" and "The Boy Is Mine."
"Why do you care so much whose dick I ride?"
She sang it. We heard it. It was a blunt response to the "girl’s girl" accusations that followed her for months.
Where They Stand Right Now
As of January 2026, the couple is dodging new breakup rumors that started when Ariana walked the Golden Globes red carpet without him. She was with her friend Doug Middlebrook instead. People immediately assumed the worst. "It’s over," the tweets claimed. "The PR contract expired."
Not quite.
👉 See also: Adele Weight Loss: What Most People Get Wrong
Ethan has been busy with his own career, specifically his Off-Broadway project Marcel on the Train, where he’s playing the famous mime Marcel Marceau. He also has a three-year-old son, Ezra, from his previous marriage. He’s been very vocal lately about wanting to protect his son’s privacy, telling podcasts that he wants the world to meet his kid "on his own terms."
It’s a tricky balance. You have one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, and a Broadway actor who just wants to co-parent in peace.
- The 2026 Plan: Insiders are whispering about a potential wedding.
- The Family Goal: Ariana has reportedly told friends she’s ready for "the whole enchilada"—meaning kids.
- The Move: They’ve been living together in New York for over a year now.
Why the Backlash Still Lingers
Why does this specific relationship still get so much heat? It’s mostly because of Lilly Jay’s comments early on. She famously told Page Six that Ariana was "not a girl’s girl" and that her family was "collateral damage." That’s a hard quote to outrun.
Ariana later told Vanity Fair that it was "disappointing" to see people believe the worst version of the story. She defended Ethan, calling him a "brilliant" and "amazing" person. She basically argued that the tabloids created a caricature of him that doesn't exist.
Whether you believe the "official" timeline or the "scandalous" one, the reality is that they’ve outlasted most people's expectations. Two years in Hollywood is like a decade in the real world. They survived a global press tour, a messy public divorce, and the wrath of Stan Twitter.
Moving Forward: What to Expect
If you’re looking for a dramatic public breakup, you might be waiting a while. The couple seems to have retreated into a very private, very domestic life. Ariana is gearing up for her Eternal Sunshine Tour later this year, and Ethan is focused on the theater.
If you want to understand the nuance here, stop looking at the paparazzi photos and start looking at the logistics. They’ve blended their lives. They’ve handled the co-parenting hurdles. They’ve supported each other’s massive career milestones.
📖 Related: Robert Conrad Net Worth: What Really Happened to the Wild Wild West Fortune
The Actionable Insight:
If you're following the Ariana/Ethan saga for the drama, the most important thing to watch is the 2026 tour cycle. If Ethan is a constant fixture backstage—like he was during her SNL appearance in late 2025—it’s a clear sign they’re in it for the long haul. For fans, the best way to support the "new era" is to focus on the music and the craft, acknowledging that celebrity relationships are rarely as black-and-white as a tabloid headline makes them out to be.