Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater haven’t exactly been everyone’s favorite couple. When news first broke they had become an item last July, fans instantly accused the Wicked co-stars of getting together when they were both still married with other people. The criticism only got worse when Slater’s then-wife Lilly Jay started talking badly about the singer in the media. Flash forward to a year later and the backlash toward Grande and Slater has since subsided. So, what changed? Apparently, it was all due to the pair disappearing from the spotlight.
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s Relationship Reportedly Threatened the Sucess of ‘Wicked’
According to the Daily Mail, several sources told the publication that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s relationship wasn’t good for Wicked. The success of the movie was already being questioned due to the number of delays it experienced. The bad press surrounding the couple’s relationship timeline only put the film’s $145-million budget even more at risk.
As a result, Grande and Slater were told to “disappear for six months.” Since Wicked wouldn’t premiere until November 2024, the hope was that fans would forget about the drama by the time the movie released.
Interestingly enough, the plan seems to have worked. After keeping their romance low-key over the past year and a half, Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have since gone public with their relationship. They’ve been spotted getting cozy on several occasions throughout the Wicked press run. Grande has even debuted Slater on her Instagram. During a recent photo dump, the Broadway star was pictured holding Grande’s train as she walked down a flight of stairs. She was wearing a pink dress inspired by the original Glinda The Good Witch in the 1939 Wizard of Oz film.
While some fans still feel negatively toward Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater dating, others have since accepted their relationship. The switch-up could be a result of the couple appearing serious. Apart from the two being inseparable, Grande and Slater have furiously defended each other in recent interviews. They’ve made it clear that critics and the media have gotten the wrong idea about their relationship. They’ve alluded to the fact that they did not cheat on their respective spouses with each other.
Now that the drama has since died down, perhaps fans can now focus on the release of Wicked. The movie will premiere in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. Grande will star as Glinda, while Slater will play Boq.
