Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Share Cozy Holiday Moments Amid Breakup Speculation
Amid ongoing rumors about their relationship, Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater offered a glimpse into their holiday season, with Slater sharing intimate photos of the Grammy-winning singer enjoying a relaxed time at home. The images, posted to Instagram Stories on Friday, depict a cozy and seemingly joyful atmosphere, though they do little to quell speculation surrounding the couple’s future.
Slater’s posts showcased Grande cuddling a brown dog while lounging on a couch, dressed in a classic black turtleneck and matching pants. She completed the look with pearl earrings, platform heels, and a wide white hairband securing her light brunette hair. Another image showed Grande laughing alongside a male friend, accompanied by Slater’s caption, “Very merry holidays.” Grande subsequently re-shared the photos to her own Instagram Stories.
These glimpses into Grande’s holiday come as the pair have faced increased scrutiny regarding the status of their relationship. Reports of distance between the two have circulated, particularly during promotional events for their film, “Wicked: For Good.” Fans first noticed a perceived shift in dynamics last weekend, spotting Slater in backstage photos from Grande’s hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live,” as documented in a post by Elizabeth Gillies.
In one playful snapshot from the SNL after-party, Gillies inadvertently covered Slater’s face with her hand while toasting Grande with champagne. The photos offer a candid look at the group celebrating Grande’s accomplishment, but also highlight the couple’s limited public displays of affection.
The speculation intensified in November when Slater appeared to avoid directly addressing questions about his relationship with Grande during an interview on the “Today” show. When asked about working with his “girlfriend” every day, Slater responded by praising the “entire cast” as “incredible,” specifically highlighting Grande’s “brilliant” talent and the “remarkable” performances of co-star Cynthia Erivo. He recalled how special it was to watch Grande and Erivo portray Glinda and Elphaba, even years after filming. “We filmed it years ago,” Slater said, “I didn’t forget how amazing their performances were, but [I loved] getting to watch it with an audience.”
The relationship between Grande and Slater began in July 2023, coinciding with Slater’s filing for divorce from his wife, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a 3-year-old son. Grande followed suit in September 2023, filing for divorce from her then-husband, Dalton Gomez, after two years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences” and listing February 20, 2023, as the date of separation.
While the recent Instagram posts offer a peek into a seemingly peaceful holiday for Grande, the underlying questions about her relationship with Slater remain unanswered, leaving fans and observers to interpret the signals as they see fit.
