Ariana Grande Slams ‘Bulls–t’ Ethan Slater Tabloid Rumors: ‘Couldn’t Be a Less Accurate Depiction’
Ariana Grande is sticking up for Ethan Slater in the face of ongoing speculation about the two Wicked costars’ romance.
While speaking to Vanity Fair for a joint cover story with fellow Wicked leading lady Cynthia Erivo published Monday (Sept. 30), the 31-year-old pop star spoke openly about her boyfriend and the allegations surrounding their love story for the first time. “I went through a lot of life changes during the filming of this movie,” began Grande, who separated from ex-husband Dalton Gomez during shooting in February 2023 before filing for divorce that September. “A lot of people that were working on it did. We were away for two years.”
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“The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she continued of gossip surrounding her relationship with Slater, who split from his ex-wife Lilly Jay — with whom he shares a young son, finalizing their divorce just weeks ago — shortly before news of his and Grande’s romance came to light in July 2023. “That was definitely a tough ride.”
In the year since everything unfolded, some have speculated that the two stars began seeing each other while still with their former partners, despite multiple reports that both Grande and Slater’s past relationships had ended before they got involved. Others bought into rumors that the Spamalot actor walked out on Jay and their son, of which the “Thank U, Next” singer told the publication, “there couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being.”
“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about,” Grande continued of her partner. “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.”
Though she said she’ll “never go into certain details” about her relationship with Slater, the Victorious alum does appear to sing about her split from Gomez and the beginnings of her new romance with the SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical star on her latest album Eternal Sunshine. The record spent two weeks atop the Billboard 200 and spawned two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “Yes, And?” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).”
Grande has also stepped out with Slater a few times over the past year or so, although the couple has largely kept their relationship low-key. In April, the Grammy winner supported Slater at his final Spamalot show, and in June, the pair attended the Stanley Cup finals together.
See Grande’s Vanity Fair covers below:
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