Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater: Relationship Timeline & Drama

What started as on‑set chemistry for Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater quickly became a public and complicated romance, marked by overlapping divorces and a PTSD diagnosis. Here’s how their relationship evolved from on‑set collaboration to headline‑grabbing drama, alongside personal disclosures about divorce, co‑parenting, and Grande’s health.

Relationship started: 2023 ·
Met on set: Wicked (2022–2023) ·
Ethan Slater’s ex‑wife: Lilly Jay ·
Ethan’s child: 3‑year‑old son ·
Ariana Grande’s diagnosis: PTSD (2024) ·
Current status: Still together (as of 2026)

The timeline packs five key milestones. One pattern: nearly every turn — from the first meeting to the current status — has been publicly scrutinized.

What happened to Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande?

How long were Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater together?

• They met on the set of Wicked in December 2022 (YouTube timeline video).
• Grande and her then‑husband Dalton Gomez separated on February 20, 2023 (Business Insider).
• TMZ reported that Grande and Slater were dating on July 20, 2023 (Business Insider).
• Grande filed for divorce from Gomez on September 18, 2023, citing irreconcilable differences (Business Insider).

The implication: the relationship timeline shows overlapping separations, which fueled speculation about the nature of their romance.

Is Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater still together?

• As of 2026, multiple sources confirm they remain a couple (Elle).
• Entertainment Tonight reported on December 17, 2024 that the couple sees an engagement in the future but is not rushing (Elle).
• Grande and Slater were photographed Christmas‑tree shopping in New York City on December 1, 2024 (Elle).
• Slater posted about Grande’s 2025 VMAs win, squashing breakup rumors (YouTube timeline video).

The pattern: public appearances and social‑media signals consistently reinforce their commitment, even amid ongoing gossip.

Did Ethan Slater leave his wife for Ariana?

• Ethan Slater separated from his wife, Lilly Jay, before the news broke in July 2023 (Business Insider).
• The divorce from Jay was finalized in September 2024 (Cosmopolitan).
• Lilly Jay publicly criticized the relationship, calling it “hard to process becoming public with a new relationship while having a new baby” (YouTube timeline video).

What did Ethan Slater’s ex‑wife say?

“It was hard to process becoming public with a new relationship while having a new baby.”

— Lilly Jay, via Daily Mail interview (as summarized in timeline coverage)

What this means: the public narrative often framed Slater’s divorce as directly caused by Grande, but the timeline shows his separation preceded the public relationship.

The implication: timing and intent remain subjects of debate.

What condition is Ariana Grande suffering from?

• Ariana Grande was diagnosed with PTSD in 2024 (Cosmopolitan).
• She discussed the diagnosis openly on a podcast, describing ongoing treatment (Business Insider).

What is PTSD?

Post‑traumatic stress disorder is a mental‑health condition triggered by a terrifying event. Grande’s public disclosure has drawn attention to the pressures of fame and personal trauma.

The trade‑off: sharing her diagnosis has increased awareness but also invites public speculation about her private struggles.

Did Ariana hold Ethan’s baby?

• Footage shows Ariana holding Ethan Slater’s son at a family gathering (Elle).
• Slater co‑parents his 3‑year‑old son with Lilly Jay (Elle).
• The nature of Grande’s relationship with the child remains private (YouTube timeline video).

How does Ethan Slater co‑parent?

• Slater has spoken about prioritizing his son’s well‑being amid the public attention (Business Insider).
• He told GQ on October 30, 2024 that he fell in love while filming Wicked (Business Insider).

The pattern: Slater balances his new relationship with fatherhood, a dynamic that draws both sympathy and criticism.

Why is Cynthia Erivo always with Ariana Grande?

Are Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande close friends?

• They co‑star in Wicked as Glinda and Elphaba (Harper’s Bazaar).
• Cynthia Erivo has called Ariana her “soulmate” in interviews (YouTube timeline video).
• The two are frequently photographed together at premieres and events (Elle).

“She’s my soulmate, honestly. We just get each other.”

— Cynthia Erivo, as reported by ET Online

Why this matters: the friendship adds a layer of support for Grande amid the scrutiny of her personal life, and it’s a bright spot in tabloid coverage.

Key voices

“He has the best heart. I don’t think people know him the way I do.”

— Ariana Grande, Vanity Fair interview (September 2024)

“I fell in love while filming Wicked.”

— Ethan Slater, GQ (October 30, 2024)

For more on celebrity relationship timelines, see Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal: Dating Timeline and Details and Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson: Romance Rumors Explained.

For fans watching this saga, the lesson is clear: what happens on set doesn’t always stay on set — and sometimes, it transforms into something much more complicated. For Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater, the choice is between navigating public scrutiny with resilience or letting it define their narrative. So far, they’ve chosen resilience.

Frequently asked questions