{"id":766,"date":"2026-06-12T16:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/12\/who-is-ethan-slater-meet-ariana-grandes-ex-boyfriend\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T16:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:40:00","slug":"who-is-ethan-slater-meet-ariana-grandes-ex-boyfriend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/12\/who-is-ethan-slater-meet-ariana-grandes-ex-boyfriend\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Ethan Slater? Meet Ariana Grande&#8217;s ex-boyfriend"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Days after Ariana Grande\u2019s 2023 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2023\/07\/17\/ariana-grande-dalton-gomez-divorcing-after-2-years-of-marriage\/\">split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez<\/a> made headlines, news broke that she was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2023\/07\/20\/ariana-grande-dating-wicked-co-star-ethan-slater-after-dalton-gomez-split\/\">dating Ethan Slater<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Grande and the actor were together for three years before Page Six <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/06\/08\/celebrity-news\/ariana-grande-and-ethan-slater-split-after-3-years-of-dating\/\">confirmed their breakup<\/a> in June 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAriana and Ethan broke up several months ago but they\u2019ve remained friends since then and have nothing but respect and admiration for one another,\u201d a source told us at the time. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t a decision they took lightly but realized they were better off friends than in a committed relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><figcaption>Meet Ariana Grande\u2019s ex-boyfriend Ethan Slater. <span class=\"credit\">michelleyeoh_official<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><figcaption>The couple met co-starring in \u201cWicked\u201d and dated for three years. <span class=\"credit\">Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The insider added, \u201cAriana is feeling really happy and focused on the next chapter with her \u2018Eternal Sunshine\u2019 tour and the upcoming release of her album \u2018Petal.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grande and Slater met while <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2023\/04\/18\/wicked-first-look-ariana-grande-glows-as-glinda-after-defending-thin-body\/\">co-starring in \u201cWicked,\u201d<\/a> in which they respectively played Glinda the Good Witch and Boq.<\/p>\n<p>Get to know more about the Tony nominee\u2019s career, as well as his ex-wife and young son, below.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">His Broadway career<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><figcaption>Slater (pictured above in December 2017) is best known for starring in the \u201cSpongeBob SquarePants\u201d musical. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images for Nickelodeon<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The actor (pictured above in June 2026) earned a Tony nominee for the role. <span class=\"credit\">Oliver Rodriguez\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After acting off-Broadway in \u201cBaghdaddy\u201d and more shows, Slater made his Broadway debut as the titular character in the \u201cSpongeBob SquarePants\u201d play from 2017 to 2018.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to receiving a Drama Desk Award for the role, Slater was nominated for a Tony.<\/p>\n<p>He went back to acting off-Broadway with roles in \u201cCamelot,\u201d \u201cAssassins\u201d and \u201cGoodnight, Oscar\u201d before <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cl4WfSJs14W\/?img_index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">joining Grande and the rest of the \u201cWicked\u201d cast<\/a> in adapting the play.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">His education<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><figcaption>Slater (pictured above in June 2018) was attending Vassar College when he nabbed the part. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>He was raised in Maryland. <span class=\"credit\">Universal Pictures<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Slater, who grew up in Maryland with two sisters and two stepbrothers, attended Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and Georgetown Day School.<\/p>\n<p>He went on to attend Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.<\/p>\n<p>The actor, born in 1992, was a sophomore in college when he landed the eponymous role in \u201cSpongeBob SquarePants.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">His love life<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><figcaption>The Tony nominee married Lilly Jay in 2018. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The psychologist publicly blasted his romance with Grande on multiple occasions. <span class=\"credit\">ethanslater\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Slater married his former high school sweetheart Lilly Jay in 2018, six years after the couple began dating.<\/p>\n<p>He <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Ck0S9RiN78a\/?img_index=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">penned a touching Instagram tribute<\/a> to his wife in November 2022, gushing, \u201cMy best friend. 4 years married, 10 years together. And this is easily the best (and most *bizarre*) year yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While it is unclear exactly when Slater and the psychologist called it quits, Jay <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2023\/07\/27\/ethan-slaters-estranged-wife-lilly-jay-blasts-ariana-grande\/\">lashed out as Grande<\/a> in 2023, exclusively telling Page Six the \u201cVictorious\u201d alum was \u201cnot a girl\u2019s girl.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>She <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2024\/12\/19\/celebrity-news\/ethan-slaters-ex-wife-lilly-jay-details-sudden-divorce-in-the-shadow-of-ariana-grande-relationship\/\">oenned a viral essay about her \u201csudden\u201d divorce<\/a> for the Cut in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cConsumed by the magic and mundanity of new motherhood, I didn\u2019t understand the growing distance between us,\u201d Jay wrote at the time, noting that her \u201cdarkest\u201d days post-split were when she couldn\u2019t \u201cescape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of [her] life.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">His baby boy<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><figcaption>Slater is the father of a son, whose name he has yet to reveal. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Jay gave rare insight into her co-parenting relationship with Slater (pictured above in June 2026) in 2024. <span class=\"credit\">Oliver Rodriguez\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Before breaking up, Slater and Jay <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/article\/celebrity-babies-2023\/\">welcomed a son<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The new dad <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cm8xYtQNBxf\/?img_index=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">revealed the news in a January 2023 Instagram post<\/a> by sharing a photo of a \u201cWicked Cute\u201d onesie. \u201cSuper vague post, but we have a baby now,\u201d he captioned the upload.<\/p>\n<p>Four months later, he confirmed the little one\u2019s sex when he referred to the child as \u201clittle guy\u201d while wishing \u201cwonderful\u201d Jay a happy Mother\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n<p>Jay gave rare insight into their co-parenting dynamic in her 2024 essay, writing, \u201cWhile our partnership has changed, our parenthood has not. Both of us fiercely love our son 100 percent of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">His and Grande\u2019s breakup<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>It is unclear exactly when Grande and Slater (pictured above in 2024) ended their relationship. <span class=\"credit\">Variety via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Rumors about the duo (pictured above in February 2025) swirled for months. <span class=\"credit\">John Salangsang\/for Audi \/ Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Prior to Page Six confirming Grande and Slater\u2019s split, the pair set tongues wagging by keeping their distance from each other during the \u201cWicked: For Good\u201d press tour in late 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Slater, additionally, skirted a \u201cToday\u201d show question about working with his girlfriend specifically \u2014 and, instead, praised the whole cast.<\/p>\n<p>However, eagle-eyed fans speculated the duo were still going strong after <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/22\/celebrity-news\/the-major-clue-ariana-grande-ethan-slater-are-still-going-strong-despite-split-rumors\/\">spotting Slater<\/a> in Elizabeth Gillies\u2019 Instagram carousel supporting Grande\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/21\/style\/ariana-grande-dazzles-in-archival-vivienne-westwood-gown-to-host-saturday-night-live\/\">\u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d hosting gig<\/a> in December 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Later that same month, Slater included the \u201cSide to Side\u201d singer in his <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2025\/12\/26\/celebrity-news\/ethan-slater-shares-photos-of-ariana-grande-enjoying-holiday\/\">\u201cvery merry\u201d holiday roundup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Once Grande and Slater\u2019s split was confirmed, social media users noticed the latter subtly <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2026\/06\/09\/entertainment\/ethan-slater-sends-love-to-ex-ariana-grande-after-breakup-news\/\">sending love to his ex<\/a> with Instagram \u201clikes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/article\/who-is-ethan-slater\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Days after Ariana Grande\u2019s 2023 split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez made headlines, news broke that she was dating Ethan Slater. Grande and the actor were together for three years before Page Six confirmed their breakup in June 2026. \u201cAriana and Ethan broke up several months ago but they\u2019ve remained friends since then and have nothing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/ethan-new.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[405,1331,913,1523,648,1524,751,645,573,1526,1528,1527,479,225,1525],"class_list":["post-766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity","tag-ariana","tag-ariana-grande","tag-broadway","tag-celebrity-breakups","tag-celebrity-couples","tag-celebrity-dating","tag-celebrity-exes","tag-celebrity-news","tag-entertainment","tag-ethan","tag-exboyfriend","tag-grandes","tag-meet","tag-slater","tag-wicked-movie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/766\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}