Ariana Grande's new boyfriend Ethan Slater and the drama with his ex explained (2024)

Ariana Grande dropped her new album Eternal Sunshine today – but what do we know about her love life with new boyfriend Ethan Slater?

They were first linked in July last year, but what do we know about Ariana Grande's new boyfriend Ethan Slater?

The singer just dropped her latest album Eternal Sunshine, but things haven't always been so rosy for her SpongeBob star beau Ethan. He's had drama with his ex-wife Lilly Jay after filing for divorce, which came after Ariana's split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez.

Here The Mirror takes a look at Ariana's relationship with Ethan and his break-up from high school sweetheart Lilly, the mother of his son.

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READ MORE: Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine lyrics about her divorce and new boyfriend explained

Who is Ariana Grande's boyfriend Ethan Slater?

The two began dating in July 2023 and news first broke days after it was confirmed that Ariana had split from her ex-husband Dalton Gomez. Ethan filed for divorce from his wife on July 26 2023, so the timings always appeared to be very close, per PEOPLE.

Ethan, aged 31, is an actor and singer from Washington D.C who stars as Boq in the upcoming Wicked movie, but he's also starred in several well-known films including EVOL: Theory of Love and The Man Behind the Camera, plus TV shows like Law & Order.

He's a dad and welcomed his son in January last year with his ex Lilly, it's not known if Ariana has any involvement in the tot's life. The two are currently "really happy and really good for each other," an insider recently told US outlet PEOPLE magazine.

"People have tried to question the timeline. The truth is, Ariana and Ethan didn’t begin seeing each other until after both parties were separated, respectfully," a close friend of the couple told the publication last September.

Who is Ethan's ex Lilly Jay?

The couple had been married for five years and had only recently celebrated their 10th anniversary as a couple after meeting in high school. They tied the knot in November 2018 and would often share throwbacks and photographs and messages on Instagram.

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"My best friend. 4 years married, 10 years together. And this is easily the best (and most *bizarre*) year yet," Ethan captioned a post from November 2022, sharing pictures for their wedding anniversary, often giving people a glimpse into their relationship.

She'd always support him on the red carpet, including at the Tony Awards in 2018 when he was nominated for best performance by a leading actor in a musical for his role in SpongeBob SquarePants.

What's the drama between the pair?

After their split went public, Jay spoke to the press about the "damage" caused by their break-up and Ethan's seemingly sudden relationship with Ariana. Jay spoke to Page Six shortly after Slater filed for divorce on July 26, 2023. "[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl," she told the outlet. "My family is just collateral damage."

Ariana has controversy as she released her first single since 2021, Yes, And? which seemingly takes aim at critics of her relationship. Fans were gobsmacked by the lyrics, including: "Your business is yours, and mine is mine/ Why do you care so much whose d*** I ride?"

Ariana was accused of "lacking empathy", and could have "taken this opportunity to create music that would be therapeutic for her to heal and for fans to listen to," a source fumed. However, instead, the singer has "created art that basically says f*** you I don’t care what I did to hurt anyone because I am happy".

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