Thank U, Next! Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s Complete Dating Timeline and Relationship Updates

December 2022

Wicked, in which Ariana plays Glinda and Ethan plays the Munchkin Boq, began filming in the U.K. At the time, Ariana was married to Dalton Gomez – who she wed in May 2021 – and Ethan to Lilly Jay, who he tied the knot with in November 2018.

February 2023

Ariana and Dalton split. Later, when the couple’s divorce was finalized, legal papers listed February 20, 2023, as their date of separation.

March 2023

The costars were reportedly “all over each other” ​at Michelle Yeoh‘s Oscars party, a source told ​The Daily Mail that August. Though it would be months before their romance was revealed to the rest of the world, the insider told the outlet Ariana and Ethan were “sloppy” in hiding their feelings for each other on the Wicked set, with most of the cast knowing there was something going on between the pair during filming.

May 2023

Ethan posted a tribute to his wife in honor of her first Mother’s Day since giving birth to the couple’s first child in August 2022. In the post, Ethan called Lilly “the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world.”

July 16, 2023

Eagle-eyed fans noticed Ariana had ditched her wedding ring after she was photographed watching the Wimbledon men’s final in London.

July 17, 2023

People confirmed TMZ’s initial report that Ariana and Dalton had separated and were “headed for divorce.” A source told People the couple had been “quietly and lovingly working on their friendship.”

Fans also noted that Ariana deleted some, but not all, of her Instagram photos featuring Dalton.

July 20, 2023

Ethan and Lilly had “separated,” and Ariana and Ethan had “recently” begun dating, a source told People at the time. After the reports of his relationship with the “Bang Bang” singer were widely circulated, Ethan set his Instagram account to private.

July 21, 2023

​Lilly was “completely blindsided” by the “horrible” news that her high school sweetheart was dating Ariana, ​sources told Page Six, with one saying she was a “wreck” in the aftermath.

July 25, 2023

Ethan reportedly told Lilly he wanted a divorce just days before the news about him and Ariana broke, a source told Us Weekly. “Lilly never saw it coming,” the insider added.

July 26, 2023

The SpongeBob actor officially filed for divorce from Lilly in New York City, but legal documents didn’t list a reason for their separation, according to Us Weekly.

July 27, 2023

Lilly spoke out about her split from Ethan for the first time, reportedly telling Page Six that Ariana ​was “not a girl’s girl” and saying she and her family ​were simply “collateral damage” to the pop superstar.

July 29, 2023

Though Ariana was reportedly giving Ethan “space” in the wake of his split from Lilly, with the couple having been apart for “several weeks,” a source told TMZ they were “100 percent still dating.”

August 2, 2023

​Although Ariana was warned to “take things slower” with Ethan, she would be “seen with him tomorrow” if it were up to her, Us Weekly reported.

August 3, 2023

Ariana and Dalton went on “multiple” double dates with Ethan and Lilly before the couples announced their respective splits, a source told The Daily Mail.

August 9, 2023

Ariana’s friends agreed with Lilly’s conclusion that Ariana wasn’t a “girl’s girl,” a source exclusively revealed to Life & Style.

“Ariana didn’t just break girl code, she shattered it into a million pieces,” the insider said. “That’s going to be tough to bounce back from. There’s a very real sense of ‘lock up your husband’ when it comes to being around her now.”

September 1, 2023

Ariana and Ethan’s relationship had been “blown out of proportion” by the public, a source told People. Another insider echoed the sentiment about the scandalized nature of their dating timeline, telling the outlet, they “didn’t begin seeing each other until after both parties were separated, respectfully.”

September 6, 2023

Ethan unprivated his Instagram account to promote his role in the Broadway revival of Spamalot. Ariana showed her support for her boyfriend by “liking” the post.

September 22, 2023

Ariana and Ethan made their first public appearance together after their relationship went public, with the couple photographed together on a trip to Disney World.

October 7, 2023

Ariana and Dalton settled their divorce, according to multiple reports. TMZ reported that Dalton would receive a payment of $1,250,000 from the Grammy winner up front in lieu of spousal support payments.

October 21, 2023

The couple ​were photographed wining and dining with each other on a date at New York City’s Mandarin Oriental hotel.

October 31, 2023

Ariana supported Ethan by attending the first preview of Spamalot. A source told People she had already seen tech performances of the play, and “has plans to go again.”

November 10, 2023

A source told In Touch Ariana was “in love” with Ethan, and that the former costars “can’t wait to live together.”

December 21, 2023

Ariana appeared to pay tribute to her boyfriend’s latest Broadway venture, sharing a photo of a Spam Christmas ornament on her tree.

December 23, 2023

Ariana is “serious” about Ethan and “loves being with him,” an insider told People. The source added that the couple enjoyed “staying in” and spending time together, and that it was a “very normal relationship.”

January 5, 2024

The couple were headed into the new year on a high note in their relationship, a source told Us Weekly.

“Things between Ariana and Ethan have grown more serious in the past few months, and they’re pretty much inseparable,” the insider told the outlet. “Ariana deeply cares for Ethan and absolutely sees a future with him. She’s looking forward to a fresh start in the new year and can’t wait to see how things continue to grow for them.”

January 12, 2024

Fans thought Ariana was calling out the public for their criticism of her and Ethan’s relationship in her newly-released song, “Yes, And?”

In her first single in three years, Ariana sang, “Don’t comment on my body, do not reply. Your business is yours and mine is mine / Why do you care so much whose d–k I ride?”

September 2024

Ethan and his ex-wife Lilly finalized their divorce on September 12, 2024, more than one year after his filing. Details of their settlement are sealed.

September 2024

Although Ariana and Ethan have mostly kept tight-lipped about their relationship, the singer spoke briefly about the romance in an interview with Vanity Fair.

“It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids,” she admitted. “Of course, I went through a lot of life changes during the filming of this movie. A lot of people that were working on it did. We were away for two years. So, of course, I understand why it was a field day for the tabloids to sort of create something that paid their bills.”

However, she also explained that the public narrative about her and Ethan isn’t totally accurate. “The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she continued. “That was definitely a tough ride. There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about [Ethan]. 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–t tabloid can rewrite in real life.”

October 2024

Ethan reflected on his “really super big year,” and how his private life played out in the spotlight while gushing over Ari’s talent in Wicked.

“I think there was something that was 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 lives that were really happening, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating and then getting things wrong about the people you love. So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard.”

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

November 2024

The couple stood apart while posing for a cast red carpet photo at Wicked’s Los Angeles premiere on November 9. However, Ariana gushed to Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet about her boyfriend.

“He’s always that adorable and he’s so amazing in this film. He’s such an amazing person,” she told the outlet. “I’m so happy people are getting to know him. My heart is very happy.”

November 2024

Ariana and Ethan shared a rare moment of public PDA, embracing at the New York City premiere of Wicked on November 14, 2024.