One year after news of Ariana Grande’s relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater surfaced following their respective divorces, the actress has responded to criticism about their romance.
In a joint cover story with Cynthia Erivo, published in Vanity Fair on Monday, the 31-year-old Victorious alum expressed her disappointment at how many people believed the negative portrayals of their relationship in the media.
Grande defended Slater, stating, “There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,” emphasising his caring nature and good heart. She also addressed negative perceptions about herself, denying claims that she is an “evil diva.”
The media scrutiny throughout her career has been mentally challenging for Grande, as she revealed, claiming the media has been “trying to destroy” her since her teenage years.
Their relationship became public in July 2023, and two months later, Grande filed for divorce from her husband, real estate agent Dalton Gomez. Slater, meanwhile, was previously married to Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a two-year-old son named Ezra. Jay criticised Slater for moving on with Grande, accusing the Grammy winner of being “not a girl’s girl.”
Grande subtly addressed the public’s interest in her personal life with the release of her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, where the lyrics of her song “Yes, And?” touch on the controversies surrounding her.
Although Grande and Slater have kept their romance mostly private, they have been spotted on rare occasions, including a date at an NHL game and a dinner outing in New York City. Slater has yet to publicly comment on the controversy surrounding their relationship.
