Who Is Ariana Grande’s Boyfriend Ethan Slater? His Role In 'Wicked', Ex- Wife & More

27 September 2023, 10:22

Ariana Grande and boyfriend Dalton Gomez kiss after karaoke duet

Listen to this article

Loading audio...
Capital FM

By Capital FM

Ariana Grande is dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater after her split from husband Dalton Gomez - but who is the actor? Here's the lowdown on Ethan Slater, from his previous roles, his estranged wife and more.

Just days after Ariana Grande made headlines amid reports she’s ‘divorcing’ her husband of two years Dalton Gomez, it was reported she’s moved on and is dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater amid his separation from his wife.

TMZ reported that Ari and her real estate agent husband have been separated since January amid struggles to make their relationship work in a ‘post-Covid world’ due to their lives being 'vastly different’.

The ‘7 rings’ singer is now said to be dating Ethan Slater, who she’s been filming her upcoming movie with since last December. While they haven't yet addressed their new relationship, they have been pictured together a couple of times and were spotted at Disneyland together earlier in September.

Ariana, 30, will play Glinda in the movie they're both starring in, while Ethan, 31, will play Boq. So, who is Ethan Slater and is he dating Ariana? Here’s what we know…

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez are reportedly 'divorcing'
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez are reportedly 'divorcing'. Picture: Ariana Grande/Instagram

Who is Ethan Slater and who is his wife Lilly Jay?

Ariana's boyfriend Ethan is a 31-year-old actor and singer who hails from Washington D.C. in the US.

Starring as Boq in the upcoming Wicked movie, Ethan has also acted in numerous other films including The Man Behind the Camera, EVOL: Theory of Love and TV shows such as Law & Order.

He also starred in the SpongeBob SquarePants Broadway musical for which he earned a Tony Award nomination.

Ethan married his high school sweetheart and girlfriend of six years, Lilly Jay in 2018, and they welcomed their first child together, a son, in 2022.

However, they are now said to have separated, with Ethan reportedly filing for the dissolution of their marriage in July 2023. It's not known when the couple initially split.

Ethan Slater and Lilly Jay separated earlier this year
Ethan Slater and Lilly Jay separated earlier this year. Picture: Alamy

Does Ethan Slater have kids?

Ethan and ex-wife Lily share a son who was born in 2022. In light of his split, he reportedly wants to co-parent their son.

Lilly told Page Six in an interview published on 27th July that Ethan and Ariana are “full-on” dating. “[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl," she added. "My family is just collateral damage. The story is her and Dalton."

She added that she's focused on 'being a good mum' and raising her son.

Ethan Slater is separated from his wife of five years, Lilly Jay
Ethan Slater is separated from his wife of five years, Lilly Jay. Picture: Alamy

Is Ariana Grande dating Ethan Slater?

According to multiple reports, Ariana is said to have started dating Ethan amid her split from her estranged husband, Dalton, and following Ethan’s separation from his wife, Lilly.

A source told PEOPLE: “[Ariana] and Ethan recently began dating, and he is separated from his wife,” while an insider at TMZ said they ‘recently started dating during the production of the flick’.

However, both stars are yet to address the dating rumours.

Listen live to Capital, and catch up on any shows you missed, on Global Player.