The pop princess and her Broadway beau have quietly drifted apart
You can stop looking for Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s big wedding — it’s not happening.
After months of silence, there have been no public sightings. The couple once couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Now, they can’t seem to be found in the same place. Fans who once followed their every move are wondering what went wrong. Insiders say the fairy tale has lost its magic.
From ‘Wicked’ romance to real-life drama
It all started on the set of Wicked back in 2022. Ariana, 32, was newly separated from real estate agent Dalton Gomez. Ethan, 33, was still married to his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a young son.
When their romance went public, chaos followed. Grande was branded a “homewrecker.” Jay spoke out in a scathing essay. She said she felt “blindsided.” She described the fallout as a darkness she struggled to escape. Fans picked sides, the internet exploded, and Ariana’s team worked overtime to calm the storm.
Yet, despite the backlash, Ariana and Ethan didn’t hide. They appeared at every major awards show. This included the Golden Globes and the Oscars. They smiled, touched, laughed, and whispered to each other on red carpets. They looked like Hollywood’s new “it” couple.
One insider said at the time, “Marriage is definitely in Ariana and Ethan’s future. They’re both planning to tie the knot once ‘Wicked: For Good’ wraps.”
They cleared their schedules, talked about traveling through Europe and Asia, and dreamed of a beach vacation. But reality hit harder than any scene from the movie.
The sparkle fades
By spring, something had shifted. Their last public appearance came in April. They attended a Little Shop of Horrors preview together. This was to support Ariana’s old Victorious co-star, Liz Gillies. After that, nothing.
Ethan vanished from Ariana’s Instagram. Her feed became a glossy mix of Wicked promotions and r.e.m. beauty campaigns. No more cozy couple shots. No more comments. Just business.
When the MTV VMAs rolled around, Ariana showed up alone and picked up three trophies — including Best Pop. Ethan didn’t join her on the red carpet. He didn’t even post a message of congratulations. Fans noticed. He did post a silent video of her acceptance speech. It was on his Instagram story, and he included it without a word.
Days later, he was spotted in New Jersey, walking with Lilly Jay and their son. The photos told a story of their own.
Tension behind the scenes
So what’s really happening between Ariana and Ethan?
“They’ve been on and off most of this year,” one insider told us. “They had a fight right before the VMAs, and that’s why he didn’t go. They made up later, but things have been unstable for months.”
The source added, “It’s been hot and cold between them since January. They’re struggling to find a balance. Their connection feels strained, not exciting anymore.”
It’s no surprise. Their relationship started in the spotlight, tangled in controversy, and burdened by constant attention. “Meeting on set while both were in other relationships created a lot of guilt and pressure,” another insider said. “They fell in love fast, but they never had time to build something real.”
The whirlwind that followed
After their romance was exposed in July 2023, just days after Ariana’s split from Gomez, Ethan filed for divorce. By November, sources claimed Ariana had moved in with him in New York City while he starred in Spamalot.
They seemed unstoppable. She even dropped songs that hinted at their relationship — “Yes, and?” and “The Boy Is Mine” — where she sang about forbidden love and public judgment. Critics called it her “rebel era.”
But behind the glam, insiders say cracks began to show. “The attention was too much,” a source revealed. “Ariana’s fame, the fan obsession, and the online hate — it all became exhausting for Ethan. He wasn’t used to that kind of pressure.”
Rumors grow as ‘Wicked: For Good’ approaches
Now, with Wicked: For Good only weeks away from release, the couple’s silence speaks volumes.
Ethan reportedly won’t do solo press for the movie. A blind item even claimed he might bring his ex to group events “in protest.” Meanwhile, another insider hinted that Ariana’s team issued strict orders: no questions about her love life during interviews.
“Their relationship feels toxic,” one source admitted. “They’re staying together for now because of the movie. But once it premieres, it’s over. They’ve both accepted that.”
Another source added, “At one point they dreamed about marriage. That’s gone. The spark that brought them together has burned out.”
Love lost in the spotlight
Those close to the pair say the infatuation faded long ago. “At first, it was passion and excitement,” said an insider. “Now it’s just confusion. They’re both wondering what’s left once the fame and thrill are gone.”
Ariana’s busy schedule hasn’t helped. She’s preparing for her Eternal Sunshine tour, filming Focker In-Law, and working on an animated Dr. Seuss project. “Ethan isn’t her priority anymore,” one friend confessed. “She loves him, but her focus is on work.”
The once-electric couple bonded over their shared love of music and theater. Now, they seem to be performing on separate stages.
What went wrong
Fans who followed their story from the beginning saw a relationship born out of chaos. They met while married to other people. They faced public backlash. They tried to turn scandal into strength. But in the end, the pressure crushed them.
Their story reads like a movie. Two stars were drawn together by art. They were separated by fame and consumed by the spotlight. The glitter, the cameras, and the expectations became too much to carry.
Insiders insist there’s no official split — at least not yet. But no one expects wedding bells anymore. “They’re holding it together for appearances,” one insider said. “But once Wicked 2 premieres, they’ll go their separate ways. The fairytale is over.”
Key moments in their romance
- 2022: Ariana and Ethan meet on the Wicked set.
- 2023: Ariana splits from Dalton Gomez. Ethan files for divorce from Lilly Jay.
- Late 2023: The couple goes public, attending award shows together.
- Early 2024: They discuss marriage and vacations after Wicked.
- Spring 2024: Public appearances stop. Social media silence begins.
- Fall 2025: Sources confirm the wedding plans are off.
It’s not her priority right now’
One final insider summed it up bluntly: “It’s not over, but it’s not her focus anymore. It is what it is.”
For Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater, the magic that once sparked on a movie set seems to have faded. The music has stopped, the lights have dimmed, and the wedding that once seemed inevitable has been quietly canceled.
Their story began with a song, but it might end in silence.
