Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater quietly ended their relationship several months ago, but new reporting suggests the final stretch was less settled than the first breakup account made it sound.
People reported that the Wicked costars split after nearly three years together. A source described the decision as amicable, carefully considered, and private for months before the news became public.
Page Six added a more complicated account, with sources saying the relationship had been “on-off” before it fully ended. The outlet also reported that some people around the couple had already questioned in late 2025 whether the romance would last.
Grande, 32, and Slater, 34, were first linked in July 2023 after meeting on the set of Wicked. Grande plays Glinda in the film adaptation, while Slater plays Boq.
The Breakup Was Private Before It Was Public
The first account of the split framed the breakup as quiet and respectful. People’s source said Grande and Slater remain friends and continue to support each other after deciding to end the relationship.
The timing also puts the breakup inside a busy professional period for Grande. She began her Eternal Sunshine tour on June 6 and has a new album, Petal, scheduled for July 31, according to People.
The Final Months Were Reportedly Uneven
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Page Six’s newer account described the relationship as having gone through an “on-off” period before the final split. The outlet also cited an unnamed industry source who used sharper language about Grande’s personal life while still calling her highly talented and professional.
That claim should be read as one source’s characterization, not a confirmed explanation for why the relationship ended. The same report also included a source defending Grande and Slater against cheating labels and saying both were unfairly attacked when the relationship first became public.
One SNL Weekend Became Part of the Timeline
Slater’s appearance when Grande hosted Saturday Night Live in December 2025 became one of the public moments folded into the breakup timeline. Page Six reported that some people were surprised to see him there because the couple had not been seen together much in the weeks before.
Elle reported at the time that Slater appeared in photos shared by Elizabeth Gillies from the night. The images showed him with Grande and others behind the scenes after Grande’s hosting episode.
The Romance Was Scrutinized From the Start
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Grande and Slater’s relationship drew immediate attention because both were coming out of marriages when it became public. Grande had separated from Dalton Gomez, while Slater had separated from Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a child.
Jay publicly criticized the situation in 2023, and the reaction followed Grande and Slater through much of the Wicked rollout. Grande later praised Slater in a 2024 interview with Entertainment Tonight, calling him “such an amazing person” and saying she was happy audiences were getting to know him.
Slater Kept Wicked Answers Focused on the Cast
During the Wicked: For Good press cycle, Slater kept his public comments focused on the film. Page Six reported that when he was asked about working with Grande, he praised the full cast instead of turning the answer into a personal comment about their relationship.
They appeared at events and supported each other’s work, but they rarely turned the relationship into an interview topic.
Grande’s Next Album Is Not Expected to Be a Slater Breakup Record
People reported that Grande is doing well after the split and focusing on work. Page Six also reported that friends do not expect Petal to play like a dramatic breakup album about Slater, with one friend saying the project is more about Grande responding to the headlines around her.
The breakup became public during one of Grande’s busiest professional stretches in years: a tour, a new album rollout, and continued attention around Wicked: For Good.