Ariana Grande is speaking out for the first time about the public reaction to her relationship with “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater.
In an interview with Vanity Fair published Sept. 30, the “We Can’t Be Friends” singer, 31, revealed the “most disappointing part” of how she felt the public saw their relationship unfold.
“The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she told the publication. “There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him …”
Grande, who plays Glinda in the upcoming musical film, then spoke to the character of Slater, 32, who portrays the character Boq.
“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart, and that is something that no bulls— tabloid can rewrite in real life,” she said.
All eyes were on Grande and Slater after the couple apparently began dating around the time filming for “Wicked” was underway, even though both were married.
TODAY.com confirmed their relationship in July 2023, days after confirming that Grande and her husband of two years, Dalton Gomez, had separated.
At the time, a source also confirmed to TODAY.com that Slater and Lilly Jay, whom he had been married to since 2018 and with whom he shares a son, also had separated.
Though the two have not shared much publicly about their relationship, they have been pictured together on several occasions.
In June, Grande and Slater attended game one of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
The two were pictured laughing together while dressed in Panthers gear, with Grande sporting black cat ears.
In April, “Wicked” co-star Jeff Goldblum, who plays the Wizard in the upcoming film, shared a shot on Instagram of his fellow cast mates, including Grande and Slater, posing for a mirror selfie.
“Over the rainbow to be reunited with this magical family!” Goldblum captioned the picture.
“You are singular and incredible,” Slater replied to the post.
