Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Quietly End Relationship After Nearly Three Years Together

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have reportedly ended their relationship after nearly three years together.

According to multiple reports, including TMZ, the couple quietly broke up several months ago and made the decision after carefully considering their future. Sources close to the former couple say the split was completely amicable, with both stars remaining friends and continuing to support one another.

The news comes as Grande embarks on her highly anticipated Eternal Sunshine Tour, her first major concert tour in seven years.

An Amicable Ending

Sources told TMZ that there was no major drama surrounding the breakup. Instead, Grande and Slater mutually decided that ending the romantic relationship was the best path forward.

Despite no longer being together as a couple, insiders say they maintain a positive relationship and still care deeply about each other. Reports also indicate that Grande's upcoming music is not connected to the breakup and that her new album was not inspired by the end of the relationship.

The revelation helps explain why Slater was noticeably absent from the opening weekend of Grande's Eternal Sunshine Tour, which launched on June 6, 2026, at Oakland Arena in California. Fans had expected to see him backstage or supporting her from the audience, but at the time, few realized the couple had already gone their separate ways months earlier.

How Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Met

Grande and Slater first met while working on Universal Pictures' highly anticipated two-part adaptation of Wicked.

Production on the film began in late 2022 in the United Kingdom. Grande was cast as Glinda, while Slater took on the role of Boq. During filming, both were married to other partners.

Grande was married to luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez, while Slater was married to clinical psychologist Lilly Jay, his longtime partner and high school sweetheart.

Their friendship reportedly developed during the filming process, but sources have consistently maintained that the romantic relationship did not begin until after both marriages had ended.

The Relationship Becomes Public

In July 2023, news emerged that Grande and Gomez had separated earlier that year. Shortly afterward, reports confirmed that Grande and Slater had started dating.

Around the same time, Slater separated from Lilly Jay and filed for divorce on July 26, 2023.

The relationship immediately became one of the most talked-about celebrity romances of the year, largely because both stars had recently ended marriages.

As media attention intensified, sources close to the couple repeatedly emphasized that they did not begin dating until after their respective separations.

Going Public in 2023

After keeping a relatively low profile during the early stages of their romance, Grande and Slater gradually became more public.

In September 2023, they were spotted together at Disneyland, marking one of their first widely reported public outings. They were later seen on several dates, including dinners in New York City and other casual appearances.

By the end of 2023, reports suggested the relationship had become increasingly serious. The couple reportedly spent most of their time together in New York City while Slater appeared in the Broadway revival of Spamalot.

Sources at the time described them as deeply committed and spending nearly all of their free time together.

Facing Public Scrutiny

From the beginning, Grande and Slater's relationship attracted intense public scrutiny.

Questions about the timeline of their romance dominated entertainment headlines throughout 2023 and 2024. Social media discussions and tabloid coverage frequently focused on the circumstances surrounding both stars' previous marriages.

Grande later addressed the public narrative in interviews and through themes explored on her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine.

During a September 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, Grande criticized what she described as misleading tabloid narratives and defended Slater's character, calling him a person with a good heart.

The following month, Slater also discussed the challenges of seeing widespread speculation about his private life and personal relationships.

Despite the criticism, the pair largely avoided discussing their romance publicly and instead focused on their respective careers.

Ariana Grande's Marriage to Dalton Gomez

Before dating Slater, Grande was married to Dalton Gomez.

The couple began dating in early 2020 and spent much of the COVID-19 lockdown period together. Their relationship moved quickly, and they became engaged later that year.

In May 2021, Grande and Gomez married in a private ceremony at her Montecito, California home.

However, their marriage eventually faced challenges as Grande spent extended periods in the United Kingdom filming Wicked, while Gomez continued his real estate career in Los Angeles.

The couple separated in January 2023 and officially filed for divorce in September of that year. Their divorce was finalized in 2024.

Ethan Slater's Marriage to Lilly Jay

Before his relationship with Grande, Slater was married to Lilly Jay.

The couple's relationship stretched back more than a decade. They began dating in 2012 while still in high school and married in November 2018.

In August 2022, they welcomed their first child together, a son.

Their separation in 2023 drew significant public attention because it occurred around the same time news of Slater's relationship with Grande became public.

Jay later wrote a personal essay reflecting on the emotional challenges of navigating a high-profile divorce while adjusting to new motherhood, a piece that received widespread attention online.

Ariana's Focus Shifts to Touring

With the relationship now reportedly over, Grande appears focused on a busy year professionally.

Her Eternal Sunshine Tour officially began on June 6, 2026, and marks her first major tour since 2019's Sweetener World Tour. The 41-date run celebrates several eras of her music career, including Positions (2020), Eternal Sunshine (2024), and the album's deluxe releases.

For fans, the confirmation of Grande and Slater's split provides new context for recent appearances and public events. What many initially assumed was simply a scheduling conflict now appears to have reflected a major personal change that the former couple had chosen to keep private.

While their romantic relationship has ended, reports suggest Grande and Slater remain on good terms, bringing a quiet and respectful conclusion to one of the entertainment industry's most closely watched relationships.