Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have ended their romantic partnership after two years. The Wicked co-stars reportedly split several months ago and remain on friendly terms.

The July 2023 spark on the Wicked set

The relationship between Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater first became public knowledge in July 2023, shortly after both performers exited previous long-term partnerships. According to the report, the pair first connected during the filming of the Wicked movie adaptation, a production that began in late 2022 and eventually reached theaters in November 2025.

This romance emerged during a volatile period for both stars. Ariana Grande had recently concluded a two-year marriage to Dalton Gomez, while Ethan Slater had separated from his wife, Lilly Jay. While their on-screen chemistry as the leads of the musical fantasy was a focal point of the film's marketing, the real-life connection proved less durable than their cinematic roles.

Career pressures and the Eternal Sunshine Tour

The decision to part ways was reportedly a mutual one, driven by a realization that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater desired different things in their personal lives. As the report says, the split was amicable and followed a period of careful consideration by both parties, who continue to support one another professionally and personally.

Currently, Ariana Grande, 32, is channeling her energy into her professional trajectory. She is heavily focused on her Eternal Sunshine Tour and the production of a forthcoming album. Despite the breakup, the 34-year-old Ethan Slater has continued to show public support for Grande, incluuding interacting with her social media posts following her recent performance in Oakland.

A 2026 streak of splits from Ali Wong to Dak Prescott

The separation of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater is not an isolated event but part of a broader trend of high-profile relationship collapses in 2026. the year began with the January separation of comedian Bill Hader and actress Ali Wong, signaling a pattern of celebrity instability that continued through the spring.

Other notable breakups in 2026 include NFL star Dak Prescott and his fiancée Sarah Jane Ramos in March, as well as the April split between Real Housewives of New York City personality Sai De Silva and her husband David Craig. This wave of separations suggests a period of significant personal transition for several figures across the entertainment and sports industries.

The missing perspectives of Lilly Jay and Dalton Gomez

While the source confirms the split between Grande and Slater was friendly, several key perspectives remain missing from the narrative. Specifically, there has been no comment from Lilly Jay or Dalton Gomez regarding the end of this relationship, leaving it unclear how the original partners view the conclusion of the co-stars' romance.

Furthermore, the report does not specify if the "different things in life" mentioned by the insider refer to family planning, geographic preferences, or conflicting career trajectories. Because the information relies on a single source close to the couple, the full internal dynamics of the separation remain unverified.