Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater have ended their three-year relationship after quietly parting ways, according to insiders who confirmed the breakup to TMZ and E! News. The split reportedly occurred months ago, though it became public as Grande launched the first leg of her Eternal Sunshine Tour on June 6 in Oakland, California. Slater did not accompany her to the event, raising speculation among fans.

Timeline of the Relationship

Grande and Slater began their relationship after meeting on the set of the 2023 film Wicked, where the 32-year-old singer was filming while Slater was still married to his ex-wife, Lilly Jay, the mother of his three-year-old son Ezra. Slater finalized his divorce from Jay in 2024. Grande, who had previously been married to ex-husband Dalton Gomez,whom she wed in 2021 and divorced in July 2023—has consistently denied that her relationship with Slater began before the end of their respective marriages.

In 2024. Grande spoke to Vanity Fair about the challenges of the relationship and the negative media attention it received — “There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,” she said of Slater. “No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about.”

Public Reaction and Media Focus

Instead of focusing on Grande’s musical performance during the tour, much of the public and media attention has centered on her physical appearance; Fans have expressed concern over what they describe as a noticeable weight loss, with some drawing comparisons to past struggles with eating disorders. Others have pushed back. Arguing that it is not the role of fans to speculate about the health of a celebrity and that Grande has a strong support system in place.

According to an insider quoted in Musikexpress, Grande is “fine” and not in distress. Still, the discussion highlights a broader debate about the pressures faced by public figures and how fan reactions can both support and harm those in the spotlight. “Man kann sich um die Gesundheit einer Person sorgen und sich gleichzeitig bewusst sein, dass die Fokussierung auf ihren Körper weiteren Schaden anrichten kann,” the publication noted.

Ethan Slater’s ex-wife, Lilly Jay, also made headlines earlier in 2024 after a leaked letter she wrote to Grande was shared by the Mirror. In the letter, she expressed deep emotional pain over the loss of her marriage. “In den unzähligen Stunden, in denen ich meinen Sohn in den Schlaf wiege, seinen Kinderwagen schiebe und seine kleinen schwitzigen Hände bewundere, wie sie einen Buntstift greifen, arbeite ich hart an meinem privaten Vorhaben, den plötzlichen öffentlichen Fall meiner Ehe zu akzeptieren,” Jay wrote.

Professional Success Amid Personal Changes

Despite the personal news, Grande has had a strong year professionally. Her latest single, “hate that I made you love me,” debuted at number one in the U.S., marking her 10th chart-topping single and tying her with Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Bruno Mars. The song also reached number one in the UK, though it entered Spain’s charts at number 31.

Grande’s new album, titled Petal, is set to be released soon and, according to insiders, will not focus on her relationship with Slater or the breakup. Meanwhile, her Eternal Sunshine Tour continues, with Grande performing a curated setlist that includes songs from her latest album and past hits like “Thank U, Next,” a track about moving on from previous relationships.

Both Grande and Slater have refrained from making public comments about their split. However, sources indicate that the breakup was amicable and that the two remain on good terms. “Sie haben sich viel Zeit gelassen, die Entscheidung sorgfältig abgewogen und dann beschlossen, getrennte Wege zu gehen,” an insider told the Mirror.

As Grande continues to make headlines for both her personal and professional life, fans remain divided—some focusing on her health, others on her music, and many curious about the next chapter of her life both on and off stage.