Ethan Slater talks about relationship with Ariana Grande to GQ

Ethan Slater opens up about his romance with Ariana Grande.

Slater, 32, stars alongside Grande in the upcoming “Wicked” film, playing Boq alongside Grande’s Glinda. He says it wasn’t easy getting into a relationship that so many people follow.

“Obviously it was a really super big year and I think there was something really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public,” he told GQ.

“There were a lot of big changes in private life that really happened, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s going on, comment on it and speculate, and then be wrong about the people you love. So just addressing that part of it, it feels really hard.”

Slater and his ex-wife, Lilly Jay, have a son, 2. He filed for divorce in July 2023, amid rumors that he was dating Grande, who had split from her now-ex-husband, Dalton Gomez.

Despite the scrutiny, Slater, a Tony Award-nominated actor for his role in Broadway’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” musical, is excited about where things stand as “Wicked” gets ready to be unleashed on moviegoers.

“But of course it was a great year and a really beautiful thing and I’m just really excited. I’m just really, really proud of Ari and the work she’s done on this. She’s poured herself into it,” he said.

“I’m really proud that I got to be there for that part of it, and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did.”

Slater also played coy when asked if Grande’s song “Imperfect for You” is about him, as some fans have suggested.

“She’s such a great performer and I think everybody knows how good she is (as) a recording artist and all that — but I’m just really impressed with the songwriting. I love that song,” he said.

For her part, Grande has shot down how their relationship has been perceived by others.

“The most disappointing thing was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she told Vanity Fair in September. “There could be no less accurate depiction of a human being than that which the tabloids spread about him…”

“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads himself thinner to be there for the people he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart and that’s something that no bulls— tabloid can paraphrase in real life,” she added.