Ethan Slater is finally opening up about his relationship with Ariana Grande, their time working on Wicked, and how he’s navigating the intense public scrutiny. In a recent interview with GQ, the Broadway star discussed his journey from being a married man with a young son to his new relationship with the global pop sensation, as well as the impact of the relentless rumors surrounding their love story.
Ethan and Ariana first connected on the set of Wicked, where Ariana plays Glinda and Ethan stars as Boq. At the time, Ethan was still married to his wife of four years, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a two-year-old son. Meanwhile, Ariana had reportedly separated from her then-husband, Dalton Gomez, earlier in 2023. The news of Ethan and Ariana’s romance broke in the summer of that year, sparking intense speculation about their relationships’ timing and the nature of their connection. Here’s what Ethan had to say about Ariana, the public’s reaction, and his plans moving forward.
On How He Sees Ariana Grande
Ethan couldn’t hold back his admiration for Ariana, describing her as nothing short of extraordinary. “Ari’s Ari, and she’s amazing. She’s a comedian who’s also got this crazy voice that can do anything. My unbiased opinion is that she’s one of the best comedians that’s been in a movie in a long time. She’s a genius.” Ethan’s words make it clear that he sees a unique, multi-faceted side of Ariana, noting both her comedic talents and incredible musical abilities.
On Falling in Love While Filming Wicked
When asked about the experience of falling for Ariana while working on Wicked, Ethan responded with genuine warmth. “Yeah. That’s a really sweet question,” he shared. “That’s really nice of you to ask. That’s a really sweet question.” Although he didn’t delve into specifics, his response suggests a tender appreciation for their connection and its timing.
On Handling Rumors and Speculation
For Ethan, one of the toughest parts of this past year has been watching people speculate about his personal life and get it wrong. Reflecting on how quickly everything became public, he said, “Obviously, it was a really super big year and I think there was something that was really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public. There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love. So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard.”
Ethan admitted that the challenges of navigating such public scrutiny were tough, but he’s choosing to focus on the positive aspects of the past year.
On a Silver Lining to All the Changes
Despite the whirlwind of emotions and change, Ethan is optimistic. “But, of course, it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing, and I’m just really excited,” he shared. “I’m just really, really proud of Ari and the work she’s done on this. She’s poured herself into it. I’m really proud that I got to be there for that part of it, and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did.” It’s clear that Ethan feels lucky to witness Ariana’s dedication firsthand and is looking forward to the world experiencing her hard work on Wicked.
On Whether Ariana’s Song “Imperfect for You” Is About Him
When asked if Ariana’s song “Imperfect for You” is about him, Ethan chose to remain coy, highlighting her talent without giving a definitive answer. “She’s such an amazing performer, and I think everyone knows how good she is [as] a recording artist and all that—but I’m just really blown away by the songwriting. I love that song.” Though he didn’t confirm or deny the speculation, Ethan’s respect for her artistry was evident.
On His Young Son and Parenting
Ethan also touched on his love for his two-year-old son, describing fatherhood as “the best thing in the world.” He shared that being a new parent while navigating fame has been challenging but rewarding. “There’s nothing I want to do more than just show you pictures and talk about him because he’s the best and the light of my life,” he gushed. But he added that he wants to protect his son’s privacy. “I also want to give him the opportunity to meet the world on his own terms… to meet the world in an analog way and not through my words.”
