Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have split after nearly three years together, sources close to the couple confirmed on Monday, 8 June 2026, describing the breakup as amicable and free of bitterness.
As reported by TMZ, the pair had been separated for several months before the news became public.
Sources described the split as entirely mutual and free of outside interference, with both Grande and Slater said to be on good terms and continuing to support each other.
How the Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater relationship began
Grande and Slater met in 2023 on the set of Wicked, the two-part film adaptation directed by Jon M. Chu, in which she played Glinda and he portrayed Boq.
Their relationship became public in July 2023, at a point when both were still navigating the end of their respective previous relationships.
Grande had separated from her husband, real estate agent Dalton Gomez, earlier that year. Slater was still married to Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a young son.
The timeline attracted significant public scrutiny, but the couple remained committed and kept a relatively private profile through the first two years of their relationship.
The Wicked franchise performed beyond almost every box office projection, with Part 1 earning over $700 million globally and Part 2 continuing the theatrical run into 2025.
Both Grande and Slater were central to the films’ success, and the public nature of their on-set romance added an additional layer of attention to the project throughout its rollout.
The Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater split, confirmed
Sources told the publication the couple gave the decision careful and considered thought before arriving at the breakup.
No external parties or specific incidents have been linked to the separation, and the characterisation from those close to both has been consistent: the split was measured, thoughtful and amicable.
Grande, who has been focused on her latest studio work, has not made any public statement. Slater, building his acting career on the momentum of the Wicked films, has also remained silent.
News of the split spread rapidly across social media on Monday evening, with Grande’s fanbase reacting widely to the announcement.
The breakup brings to a close one of the more scrutinised celebrity relationships in recent memory, one that began under heightened public conditions and played out against the backdrop of one of the most commercially successful film releases of 2024.
What happens next
With both pursuing active careers, Grande focused on music and Slater building his post-Wicked filmography, neither is expected to address the split publicly in the near term.
No further details about the timeline or specific circumstances of the separation could be verified at the time of publishing.
