Ariana Grande’s Steamy Romance with Co-Star Ethan Slater Ignites as ‘Wicked’ Hits Australia!

Despite initial public skepticism, Ariana Grande’s relationship with her “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater has now been confirmed officially on Instagram.

The “Eternal Sunshine” vocalist marked the impending release of the movie musical, directed by Jon M. Chu, on Monday with a series of photos from its premiere in Australia. Included in the photos is an unposed shot of Slater, who portrays Boq from Munchkinland, holding up the tail of Grande’s Glinda-inspired Vivienne Westwood dress as she descends the stairs at the State Theatre in Sydney. (Slater posted the identical photo on his profile.)

Slater’s attendance at the premiere on Sunday was widely shared on social media, especially when a fan recorded the Tony Award nominee receiving a friendship bracelet for Grande.

“Can you deliver this to Ari for me?” the fan can be heard asking in the video. Slater responds, “I’m fairly certain she’s on her way if you’d like to give it to her, but I can do that.” He further reassures the fan by adding, “I’m certain she’ll adore it.”

The video of the encounter spread quickly on social media after it was reposted by a “Wicked” fan page, with the page owner commenting, “Ethan Slater appears to be the most kind and genuine individual. It’s time for the world to apologize to him.”

When Slater and Grande, who met on the set of “Wicked”, first sparked dating rumors in 2023, following their widely discussed breakups from previous partners, they faced criticism. Slater’s ex-wife, singer Lilly Jay, the mother of his 2-year-old son, told Page Six at the time of their simultaneous divorce filings, “My family has become collateral damage.”

The duo has since remained quiet about their relationship. However, that changed in September when Grande discussed the media frenzy surrounding her relationship with Slater in a Vanity Fair cover story.

While refusing to delve into “specific details,” the Grammy-award winning artist stated, “It certainly doesn’t get any easier, witnessing some of the negativity that was spawned by untrustworthy tabloids.”

She went on to state that, like many other cast members of “Wicked,” she experienced significant changes in her life during the movie’s filming.

Grande expressed her disappointment at the public’s gullibility, saying, “It’s disheartening to see people believe the worst depiction of the situation … The media couldn’t have portrayed a more inaccurate picture of [Slater]. No one in this world tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to support the people he loves.”

Slater echoed Grande’s sentiments in his GQ cover story in October, admitting that dealing with the backlash was challenging.

“There were a lot of significant changes happening in our personal lives,” he noted, “and it’s really hard to see people who are uninformed commenting and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you care about.”

“But, of course,” he admitted, “it was an incredible year and a truly wonderful experience, and I’m extremely excited.”

Slater also expressed his pride in Grande and her work on “Wicked.”

“She’s thrown herself into it,” he declared, “and I’m thrilled to witness this next phase when the world gets to see the remarkable thing she’s achieved.”

The Journey Through Oz press tour will continue to four more cities worldwide, with stops planned in Los Angeles, Mexico City, New York, and London before “Wicked” premieres in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22.

At the end of the movie, Grande will be credited with her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera, which combines her mother, Joan Grande’s last name, with her father, Edward Butera’s.

“Technically, it’s little Ari’s name,” she explained her decision in a recent interview with Australian radio station Hit 104.7 Canberra. “I feel I’ve rediscovered myself in many ways through what I learned from Glinda, from Elphaba, and you know, that was my name when I saw the show as a 10-year-old — and it felt like a wonderful way of honoring that.”