Relationships under a microscope are weird. One day you’re posting grainy, romantic photos of a quiet life in Montecito, and the next, you’re filing paperwork in a Los Angeles court to legally end a three-year marriage. When people ask why did ariana grande get divorced, they’re usually looking for a single "aha!" moment. A scandal. A blowout.
The truth is a lot more human—and a lot more complicated.
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez were the "it" couple of the pandemic. They fell in love when the world was standing still. But once the world started moving again, their lives moved in completely different directions. Literally.
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The Distance That Changed Everything
You've probably heard the phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder," but for Ariana and Dalton, absence just made things harder. The timeline is pretty clear. In late 2022, Ariana moved to the UK to start filming the Wicked movie. She was playing Glinda, a dream role she’s wanted since she was a kid.
This wasn’t just a quick business trip. It was months of grueling rehearsals and filming.
While Ariana was in London, Dalton was in Los Angeles. He’s a high-end real estate agent. He has a career that requires him to be physically present in one of the most competitive markets in the world. He couldn't just pack up and live in a trailer on a movie set for a year.
Insiders mentioned to People and TMZ that the long-distance nature of their marriage became the primary strain. Dalton did visit her in London in January 2023—a "last-ditch effort" to fix things—but it didn't stick. They privately separated shortly after that trip, specifically on February 20, 2023.
Post-Pandemic Reality Check
There's something specific about "quarantine love." Ariana and Dalton spent the first year of their relationship in a bubble. No paparazzi outside the door because nobody was outside. No world tours. No red carpets. Just them and their dogs.
When the world reopened, the "pop star" version of Ariana Grande came back in full force.
For a guy like Dalton, who mostly stays out of the spotlight, the intensity of her fame was reportedly a bit of a shock. It's one thing to date a girl who likes to stay in and watch movies. It's another thing to be married to a global icon whose every move is tracked by millions. Their "irreconcilable differences"—the standard legal reason cited in their September 2023 filing—likely covered this fundamental shift in their daily reality.
The Ethan Slater Situation
It’s impossible to talk about this divorce without mentioning the Wicked co-star in the room. By July 2023, rumors were everywhere that Ariana was dating Ethan Slater.
Slater, who plays Boq in the film, was also going through a separation from his wife, Lilly Jay. The timing was... messy. Social media went into a tailspin, accusing the pair of overlapping their previous relationships.
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However, sources close to the couple have consistently maintained that both Ariana and Ethan were already separated from their respective spouses before they started seeing each other. Whether you believe the "official" timeline or the "Internet sleuth" timeline, the new romance certainly signaled that the marriage to Dalton was well and truly over long before the papers were signed.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye
Divorce in Hollywood is rarely cheap, but thanks to a solid prenuptial agreement, this one was relatively fast. The settlement was finalized in March 2024.
Ariana didn't have to pay ongoing alimony, which is a huge win in these types of cases. Instead, she made a one-time, tax-free payment of $1.25 million to Dalton. She also agreed to give him half of the net proceeds from the sale of their Los Angeles home and covered up to $25,000 of his attorney fees.
The ironclad privacy agreement in the settlement is perhaps the most interesting part. Dalton is legally barred from giving interviews or writing books about their marriage. It’s a permanent "hush" clause.
Moving On and Actionable Takeaways
So, why did ariana grande get divorced? It was a "perfect storm" of long-distance stress, the jarring transition from private quarantine life to public superstardom, and two people simply growing apart as their careers pulled them toward different continents.
If you’re looking for lessons from this celebrity split for your own life, here’s what actually matters:
- Distance requires a plan: If a job or opportunity takes you away for months, "winging it" usually leads to resentment. Set clear expectations for visits and communication.
- The "Bubble" isn't reality: If you meet someone during a unique, isolated time (like a vacation or a pandemic), make sure you actually like their "real-world" self before making long-term commitments.
- Prenups are tools, not insults: A clear legal agreement doesn't mean you expect to fail; it means you want to protect both parties from a long, toxic legal battle if things don't work out.
Ariana has since channeled these emotions into her album Eternal Sunshine, which fans have picked apart for clues about the breakup. It seems like both parties are finally finding their footing in their new, separate lives.