Pop star Ariana Grande and Broadway actor Ethan Slater met while filming the adaptation of the musical Wicked, and began dating in July. Grande was cast as Glinda, while Slater plays Boq, a resident of Munchkinland. When they started dating, both had recently ended relationships, and they kept their connection fairly quiet to start. Now, a source has told People that things are “serious” and getting more so every day.
“Ariana is serious with Ethan,” claimed the insider. “She loves being with him.”
They added that the new couple does “go out occasionally” but that they “mostly enjoy staying in. It’s a very normal relationship.”
In addition to being homebodies, both Grande and Slater have also been busy—Grande recently announced her upcoming seventh studio album, which she has evidently been working hard on. Slater is starring in the Broadway revival of Spamalot.
“They love to support each other in their work,” the source said. “When she’s done with work, Ariana loves going to the theater when she can.”
For Christmas, Grande shared some photos of her holiday decorations, which included a SPAM can ornament as a playful reference to her boyfriend.
The couple was seen together in public on Saturday, December 23, heading out to dinner with Grande’s father, Ed Butera, at her family’s favorite Italian restaurant. They then headed to watch Slater in Spamalot. She has seen the show a few times at the St. James Theatre in New York City, attending the show’s first preview performance on Halloween and then the opening night of the comedy musical on November 15.
Grande is now officially divorced from her former husband, real estate agent Dalton Gomez, settling the matter in October. Slater is separated from his wife Lilly Jay, with whom he shares one child.
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.