Meet Ariana Grande’s new boyfriend, SpongeBob SquarePants actor Ethan Slater: the pop princess first met the Broadway actor on the set of Wicked … and they just recently split from their spouses
- Ethan Slater got famous by playing the well-known Nickelodeon kids’ TV show character in its stage adaptation – now he’s in headlines for allegedly cheating on his ex-wife Lilly Jay with Grande
- The ‘7 Rings’ singer and her husband, luxury property agent Dalton Gomez, also called it quits; she and Slater co-star in the film version of the musical Wicked, releasing in late 2024
Grande and Slater reportedly met on the set of the screen adaptation of Wicked. Although they have not publicly commented on their connection or their splits from former partners, it has been widely reported that the pair has been nurturing their relationship out of the public eye for months.
Here’s what you need to know about the man who appears to have captured Grande’s heart.
Ethan Slater’s claim to fame was SpongeBob SquarePants
Slater, 31, starred in the 2017 hit musical SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical as the Nickelodeon cartoon character of the same name. The actor became synonymous with the character, a favourite among children, owning the role as he showed off his dance skills wearing the signature yellow button-up shirt, red tie and plaid pants. He won a Drama Desk Award and earned a Tony nomination for his performance. He is also a respected Broadway actor for his varied skill set on stage.
Slater put a lot of work into preparing for the show, telling his alma mater Vassar College in an interview that he even trained with a contortionist. He said he spent six months going to the gym before rehearsals began, taking dance lessons five days a week and incorporating stretching into his routine. He called the show itself a “cross-fit workout”.
He went to Vassar College
