The claims of Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande‘s amicable separation seems to have some merit, with the actor not looking like a broken man.
Slater recently stepped out for some theatrical fun, marking his first public appearance since news of his breakup broke. A source confirmed the end of his romance with Grande on June 8.
Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande appear to be doing well separately, with the singer focused on her first tour in seven years.
Slater returned to the spotlight on Thursday, June 11, when he stepped out to join Shakespeare in the park’s production of “Romeo & Juliet.” The event took place at The Delacorte Theater in New York City’s Central Park, where the paparazzi captured the celebrities in attendance.
For the big day, Slater opted for a relaxed fit, looking radiant in a white t-shirt, black trousers and white trainers. He sported a silver chain offering bright smiles to the flashing cameras as he posed for pictures.
A video shared by TMZ highlighted the moment, showing Slater posing with his hands in his pants pockets or holding them in front of him. He performed solo and didn’t seem bothered by the end of his romance with Grande.
The former couple quietly ended their relationship
Slater’s put-together performance in New York City may stem from the alleged way he parted ways with Grande. The explosion covered the story and reported that a source had confirmed the end of Slater and Grande’s romance after nearly three years together.
The exact date of their separation was not given, as the source claimed that Slater and Grande “have been quietly breaking up for months.” Although they decided to end their relationship, the source emphasized that they did so amicably and not on bad terms.
“They are still friends and very supportive of each other,” the source continued. They added that Grande was not affected by the end of her romance, as she claimed she was “doing great” and focused on her Eternal Sunshine tour, which kicked off on June 6.
Inside Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s relationship
The former couple reportedly met on the set of the musical “Wicked,” where Grande played Glinda, the good witch, while Slater played Boq. They sparked dating rumors in July 2023 and kept fans guessing until they became Instagram official in November 2024.
That same year, Grande raved about her love for Slater in an interview, describing him as an “amazing person.” She slammed Slater, calling him “indignant” while enthusing about his performance in the musical.
“I’m so happy that people are getting to know him. My heart is very happy,” Grande added. She wasn’t alone in her feelings, with Slater declaring that his then-girlfriend’s performance in “Wicked: For Good” was “out of this world.”
Nickelodeon Alum praised her ex amid breakup rumors
Months before Grande and Slater’s breakup went public, they had sparked separation rumors. The explosion reported in December 2025 that Grande had honored her late ex, Mac Miller, during a performance at Chapman University.
She credited him with improving her musical style and recalled how Miller had encouraged her to explore the R&B side of pop and learn how to combine them. Grande spoke of the late singer with gratitude, noting that his support inspired her to work with him.
The duo teamed up for Grande’s 2013 hit song, “The Way,” and they also worked together on the 2016 remix of Grande’s “Into You,” as well as Miller’s 2016 track, “My Favorite Part.” Miller took his last breath on September 7, 2018 after an accidental overdose.
Ariana Grande’s Dating History
Before Slater and Miller, Grande made waves for dating other men in the entertainment industry. According to Page sixbegan her dating story when she fell for “Riverdale” actor Graham Phillips in 2008. However, their young love ended in 2011.
Almost a year after their split, Grande found love again with MTV star Jai Brooks. They started dating in August 2012 and things seemed rosy between them until Brooks accused Grande of cheating on him in 2013, which she denied.
That same year, Grande dated English singer Nathan Sykes, but they reportedly broke up four months later. Next came rapper Big Sean in 2014, a relationship that ended nearly nine months after they shocked fans with their romance. Grande’s exes also include Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson and her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez.
