Wicked: For Good has officially hit the movie theaters, and it has fans curious as to the status of Ariana Grande‘s relationship with Ethan Slater.
The much-debated relationship — did they or didn’t they cheat on their spouses — is raising more questions after Slater skillfully dodged a question about Grande on the Today show on Nov. 21.
Today show anchor Craig Melvin asked Slater, “What was it like working with your girlfriend every day?”
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The 33-year-old Broadway star stuttered for a split second, looking slightly uncomfortable with the question.
“Well, well, the entire cast was incredible,” he giggled. “Ariana’s brilliant, and Cynthia’s remarkable. So getting to watch those two women perform at such a high level…”
Slater didn’t really answer the question at all, which only fueled the rumors that the duo might be avoiding the question until after the sequel’s press promotion is over. Fans dropped into the YouTube comments with their pointed thoughts.
Ethan Slater, Ariana Grande.
Michael Buckner/Variety
One YouTube account asked, “Why is Craig messy?” Another fan acknowledged the alleged affair rumors: “Leaving your wife and kid is not a good look. Wicked PR machine managed to avoid it pretty well.”
Another viewer commented on the hypocrisy of it all, adding, “Why do they always ask him about Ariana?! Yet, they NEVER ask her about Ethan!! I don’t think they’ve even asked Ariana once on this press tour…”
In October, the Daily Mail claimed that their romance had petered out.
“Ariana and Ethan have been on and off for most of this year,” an insider told the media outlet. “He chose not to attend the MTV VMAs with her because they’d had an argument just days before. But they made up soon after. They’ve both been running hot and cold with each other.”
“The infatuation has worn off, some of the novelty,” a second source agreed. “So they’re having to decide what’s left. Maybe she sees something that goes beyond the crush. But if there’s nothing more than what there was, it won’t last.”
When they both began working on Wicked, Grande was married to Dalton Gomez, and Slater was married to Dr. Lilly Jay. They share a son, who was an infant at the time. Once word of their coupling emerged in July 2023, Jay shared her unfiltered thoughts about Grande with Page Six.
“[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl,” she said. “My family is just collateral damage.”
Jay eventually gave her side of the story in a December 2024 essay for The Cut, “How Does My Divorce Make You Feel?” According to her, there is no doubt that Grande and Slater were engaged in an affair on the set of Wicked. Slater and Grande divorced their respective spouses in 2024.
Wicked: For Good is expected to be a part of the awards show season, so it might be a while before Slater or Grande clarifies their relationship status.
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