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Ariana Grande's Surprising Decision After Quiet Split with Ethan Slater

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Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater quietly split after three years of dating, Page Six has confirmed.

“Ariana and Ethan broke up several months ago but they’ve remained friends since then and have nothing but respect and admiration for one another,” a source told us Monday. “This wasn’t a decision they took lightly but realized they were better off friends than in a committed relationship.”

“Ariana is feeling really happy and focused on the next chapter with her ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour and the upcoming release of her album ‘Petal,'” the source added.

Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater — seen here in February 2025 — have split after three years of dating, Page Six confirmed Monday. Variety via Getty Images

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater embracing at the 97th Oscars.

A source tells us they split several months ago and remain friends. They’re seen here in March 2025. Penske Media via Getty Images

TMZ was first to report the news.

The outlet also reported that Grande’s new album is not inspired by the breakup, or her relationship with Slater.

Grande, 32, and Slater, 34, met on the set of “Wicked.” Both were married at the time — Grande to her now ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, and Slater to his high school sweetheart Lilly Jay. Slater and Jay share their 3-year-old son, Ezra, together.

Ariana Grande hugging Ethan Slater at the 97th Annual Oscars.

The source adds that Grande is “happy and focused” on her “Eternal Sunshine” tour and her new album, “Petal.” The Academy via Getty Images

Ethan Slater, Ariana Grande, and a guest posing for a photo at a table during the 30th Critics Choice Awards.

Slater and Grande met on the set of “Wicked.” They’re seen here in February 2025. Getty Images for FIJI Water

In June 2023, Slater’s ex-wife blasted Grande to Page Six after news of his budding romance with the singer broke.

“[Ariana’s] the story, really. Not a girl’s girl,” Jay exclusively told Page Six. “My family is just collateral damage.”

However, a source told Page Six at the time that Grande and Slater “didn’t do anything wrong.”

“[Jay is] rightfully upset because her marriage fell apart, but Ariana and Ethan didn’t do anything wrong,” the insider said, telling us that Slater had been separated from Jay for two months before romancing Grande.

Though Grande and Slater remained largely private about their romance over the past three years, Slater did share intimate pics of Grande celebrating the holidays at home in December.

Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande smiling at the camera.

The two were both married at the time to other people. Grande was previously married to her now ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, and Slater was married to his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares his son Ezra with. michelleyeoh_official

Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande posing together.

Slater and Grande remained largely private about their romance after news broke they were dating. Instagram

Grande appears to be taking her single status in stride. She kicked off her highly anticipated “Eternal Sunshine” tour Saturday at the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California, and playfully referenced her divorce while singing her 2019 hit “Thank U, Next” — a song famously about her ex-boyfriends, including Pete Davidson, Big Sean and the late Mac Miller.

The lyrics include, “One day I’ll walk down the aisle / Holding hands with my mama … Only wanna do it once, real bad / Gon’ make that last.”

After singing, “Only wanna do it once, real bad” on Saturday, Grande jokingly held up two fingers and laughed, seemingly referring to her being open to remarrying after her first marriage to Dalton didn’t work.