Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater Reportedly "Full-On Dating" After His Split From Wife

It seems Ariana Grande's reported romance with her "Wicked" costar Ethan Slater is getting serious after her reported separation from husband Dalton Gomez. Just one day after People and TMZ reported that Slater had filed for divorce from his wife, Lilly Jay, a source told the outlet that he and Grande are now "full-on dating" after news broke about their new relationship. According to the insider, the pair's connection was "obvious" on the "Wicked" set early on.

"[T]hey were very sweet to each other and often seen laughing together," the source added. "Everyone just thought they were both happily married though and didn't expect them to end up dating." Another source said the new romance did not begin until the two stars were separated from their spouses.

TMZ was the first to break the story about Grande and Slater dating. Reps for Grande and Slater did not respond to POPSUGAR's requests for comment at the time, but the latest update on their newfound relationship comes after a swarm of updates about their love lives.

Grande, 30, married Gomez back in 2021, but the two reportedly separated after two years of marriage, TMZ reported on July 17. People confirmed the news as well, with a source later telling the outlet, "Ariana and Dalton separated in January. She and Ethan recently began dating, and he is separated from his wife."

Slater, 31, married his high school sweetheart, Jay, back in 2018. They welcomed a son in 2022. On their wedding anniversary in November 2022, Slater posted a since-deleted tribute to Jay on Instagram and wrote, "My best friend. 4 years married, 10 years together. And this is easily the best (and most *bizarre*) year yet." For Mother's Day this May, the actor shared photos of the couple's son on Instagram, which have also been deleted, and wrote, "Happy first Mother's Day to the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world."

Of Slater and Jay's separation, a source told People it's been hard on the latter. "They were together for so long; they met when they were in high school. They were inseparable. It's devastating for Lilly," they said.

Jay broke her silence about Slater and Grande's romance on July 27, telling Page Six, "[Ariana's] the story really." She noted that the singer is "not a girl's girl" and claimed, "My family is just collateral damage." She also said she's focused now on being "a good mom" to her and Slater's son, adding that recent headlines about her ex-husband and Grande are swarming because "[t]he story is her and Dalton." Reps for Slater did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR's request for comment.

As for Grande and Gomez's estranged relationship, a source previously told People the two "have been quietly and lovingly working on their friendship" since splitting earlier this year. Per a recent TMZ report, Gomez has been dating for a few months now, which Grande was fine with.

Since her and Gomez's breakup, Grande has been seen out and about, including at Wimbledon on July 16 with another "Wicked" costar, "Bridgerton" leading man Jonathan Bailey. "Wicked" director John Chu posted on Instagram on July 19 that filming on the movie was "so close" to being finished before the SAG-AFTRA strike began but noted that its release won't be delayed and he stands with the actors on strike, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Aside from starring alongside Grande in the upcoming "Wicked" films, Slater, who plays Boq in the movies, first rose to fame for playing SpongeBob in "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical" back in 2017. He was nominated for a Tony for his role, but the show closed in September 2018.