Let's be real for a second. If you’ve been anywhere near the internet in the last few years, you’ve seen the headlines. You’ve seen the "SpongeBob" memes. You’ve probably even seen those blurry paparazzi shots of two people trying to grab a coffee in New York without being mobbed. But the story of Ariana Grande and her boyfriend, Ethan Slater, is a lot weirder, messier, and—honestly—more human than the "homewrecker" narratives would have you believe.
It's 2026. The Wicked movies have finally all hit theaters. The dust has mostly settled. Yet, people are still obsessed with how this started. Was it a scandal? A "happy disaster," as Ariana calls it? Or just two people who met at the worst possible time and decided they didn't care what the world thought?
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The Hampstead Pub and the "Happy Disaster"
To understand the current state of Ariana Grande and her boyfriend, you have to go back to late 2022. They were in London filming Wicked. Ariana was Glinda; Ethan was Boq. On screen, Boq is hopelessly in love with Glinda, and she... well, she mostly ignores him. Off-screen, things were clearly different.
They were both married when they met. That’s the part that keeps the comment sections on fire. Ariana was with real estate agent Dalton Gomez, and Ethan was with his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay. By the time the news broke in July 2023 that they were dating, both had separated from their spouses. But the timeline? It's tight. Super tight.
People love a villain. They jumped on the "Ariana isn't a girl's girl" train faster than a Glinda high note. But if you listen to Eternal Sunshine (and the 2025 deluxe tracks like "Hampstead"), she basically tells everyone to back off. She sings about leaving her heart at a pub in Hampstead and throwing away her reputation to save "more heartache." Basically, she’s saying: Yeah, it looked bad. No, you don't know the full story.
Is It Still "The Real Deal" in 2026?
Honestly, most people expected them to fizzle out once the Wicked press tour ended. Usually, "showmances" die the second the actors stop sharing a trailer. But as of early 2026, Ariana Grande and her boyfriend are still very much a thing.
Insiders have recently described them as acting like an "old married couple." They aren't hitting the club every night. Instead, they’re reportedly binging shows and playing board games in their New York apartment. Ethan has been by her side through the Eternal Sunshine tour prep, and he was even spotted backstage during her hosting gig on Saturday Night Live in December 2025.
What people get wrong about Ethan Slater
He isn't just "the SpongeBob guy."
- He’s a Tony-nominated Broadway powerhouse.
- He’s a father (he shares a son with his ex-wife).
- He’s a writer (he spent early 2026 working on an Off-Broadway play about Marcel Marceau).
The dynamic is interesting because he’s a "pro’s pro." During the massive Wicked: For Good press tour last November, you might have noticed they barely stood next to each other on the red carpets. Fans thought they’d split. In reality, sources say that was a tactical move. Ethan knew he wasn't the "selling tool" like Ariana and Cynthia Erivo. He stayed in the background so the movie—and their relationship—didn't get swallowed by more "corrosive" gossip.
The "Eternal Sunshine" of It All
If you want the real tea, you have to look at the lyrics. Ariana has always used her music as a public diary, even when she claims she wants privacy.
In "The Boy Is Mine," she leans into the drama. She knows she's causing a scene, but she "can't ignore her heart." Then you have "Imperfect For You," which is arguably the most honest song about Ethan. She calls the start of their romance a "happy disaster." It acknowledge that the timing was terrible and the public perception was a nightmare, but for them, it worked.
There was a lot of talk about a "secret split" in early 2026 because Ariana attended the Golden Globes with her friend Doug Middlebrook instead of Ethan. But don't let the lack of red carpet photos fool you. They’ve been seen holding hands at the National Board of Review awards and sharing intimate "Boxing Day" posts on Instagram.
The Reality of the "Homewrecker" Narrative
We have to talk about Lilly Jay. When the news first broke, she told Page Six that her family was "collateral damage." That quote did permanent damage to Ethan and Ariana’s public image.
However, by late 2024, Ethan’s divorce was finalized and the legal battles were sealed. Since then, things have gone quiet. No more scathing interviews. No more public shade. It seems everyone has moved into a "co-parenting and moving on" phase.
Does that mean it’s all sunshine? Probably not. Being Ariana Grande and her boyfriend means living under a microscope that would make most people crack. They’ve had to navigate:
- Extreme online vitriol.
- The logistical nightmare of a global press tour.
- Integrating a new relationship with a toddler in the mix.
What’s Next for the Couple?
Rumors are already swirling about an engagement. Some sources say Ariana is ready for a "fresh start" and wants something low-key—maybe even an elopement—to avoid the circus of her previous weddings.
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But for now, they seem content just... existing. Ariana is gearing up for her 2026 tour, and Ethan is deep in the theater world. They’ve moved past the "scandal" phase and into the "stable couple" phase, which is a lot less interesting for tabloids but probably a lot better for their mental health.
Takeaways for the Fans
If you're following this saga, remember a few things. First, the "timeline" you see on TikTok is usually missing about 80% of the actual conversation. Second, celebrities are allowed to have messy transitions just like everyone else—theirs just happen to involve $150 million movie sets.
Next Steps for You:
If you're looking to dive deeper into the clues Ariana left for Ethan, go back and listen to the Eternal Sunshine (Brighter Days Ahead) deluxe tracks. Specifically, pay attention to the lyrics in "Hampstead" and "Warm." They offer a much more nuanced look at the London filming period than any "anonymous source" ever could. Keep an eye on Ethan's theater schedule, too; she’s almost guaranteed to be in the front row of his next opening night.