Ethan Slater gave fans a rare peek into his relationship with Ariana Grande over the holidays, sharing several personal photos of the pop star on Instagram Stories on Friday, December 26.
Inside Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater’s Holiday Together
In the series of snapshots, Grande, 32, is seen cuddling with a dog while wearing an all-black ensemble that includes a turtleneck, wide-leg pants, and platform heels. She accessorized her look with a white headband, pearl earrings, and a sleek updo.
“Very merry holidays,” wrote Slater, 33, over one image of Grande laughing on a couch beside an unidentified man.
The couple, who met in 2022 on the set of the star-studded film adaptation of “Wicked,” has kept their relationship largely private. Their romance was first confirmed by a source to People in July 2023. Since then, Slater and the former “Voice” coach have made only a few subtle public appearances together.
Despite their low-profile approach, Slater previously celebrated Grande’s Oscar nomination for her performance in “Wicked” by posting a congratulatory photo in January 2025.
Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater’s Recent Relationship Updates
Just days before the holiday posts, Slater was seen backstage during Grande’s hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live” on December 21. Their mutual friend and Grande’s former “Victorious” co-star, Liz Gillies, shared behind-the-scenes photos that included Slater, actor Aaron Simon Gross, and others.
“Nobody does it like you, dingus,” Gillies captioned the post. “What a treat it is to watch you use your many talents and gifts and use them so effortlessly well. Another brilliant episode. Not to mention—it was the marvelous @fayedunaway’s last episode. AND—CHER! PLUS CHRISTMAS! I fear my heart might’ve grown three sizes last night.”
In a red carpet interview with Extra in November, Slater praised Grande and her “Wicked” co-star Cynthia Erivo, calling their performances “out of this world.”
“Ariana’s performance is out of this world and Cynthia’s performance is unbelievable,” he said at the New York City premiere of the second installment of “Wicked.”
He continued, “And Johnny [Bailey] is so beautiful, and Michelle [Yeoh] and Jeff [Goldblum], and I got to work with Marissa [Bode] from this close away for this whole movie—and yet getting to see her on the big screen, it’s just so moving.”
Deep Connections Fuel Powerful Performances in ‘Wicked’
Slater also spoke about the close friendship between Grande and Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the “Wicked” adaptation.
“They really do just communicate off camera even more than they do on camera,” he said. “That’s what makes their friendship really beautiful to witness—how they help each other through the craziness of this.”
While fans continue to speculate about the couple’s long-term plans, Slater and Grande appear focused on their work and keeping their personal lives relatively private. Still, moments like these—shared directly with fans—offer a rare glimpse into the duo’s evolving relationship.
