Who Is Ethan Slater, Ariana Grande’s Rumored New Beau?

Just days after the world found out Ariana Grande had separated from husband Dalton Gomez, the pop star’s wickedly new romance is already taking center stage.

TMZ broke the news that Grande is now dating her Wicked costar, the Tony Award–nominated actor Ethan Slater. In the forthcoming musical film adaptation directed by Jon M. Chu, Grande and Slater are part of a star-studded cast that also includes Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and many others.

Ahead, we break down everything you need to know about Slater, including his award-winning Broadway career and his previous marriage.

He has a successful Broadway career.

Slater is perhaps best known for originating the titular role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award and won a Drama Desk Award in 2018.

“I fell into a huge opportunity and had no idea of the scope when I auditioned,” Slater told MoCo360 of the life-changing role.

He has extensive experience in other theater projects, such as the 2019 Lincoln Center production of Camelot and the 2022 Goodman Theatre play Good Night, Oscar.

Besides Broadway, Slater has also made appearances in major television series like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Fosse/Verdon.

opening night of nickelodeon's spongebob squarepants the broadway musical arrivals curtain call

Jenny Anderson//Getty Images

He plays Boq in the Wicked film adaptation.

Slater was tasked to bring Boq—the love interest of Elphaba’s younger sister, Nessarose—from the stage to the big screen for the forthcoming adaptation. Other cast members include Grande as Galinda, Erivo as Elphaba, Bailey as Fiyero, and Yeoh as Madame Morrible.

He is separated from wife Lilly Jay.

Slater married his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, and the two have a son together. Slater announced the news of their baby’s arrival in January 2023.

A source for People claims the couple are now separated. Slater celebrated their four-year wedding anniversary with an Instagram post in November 2022.