Ethan Slater was proper by Ariana Grande’s facet as she returned to host Saturday Evening Dwell.
The Broadway actor, 33, was noticed celebrating Grande backstage throughout her internet hosting gig on SNL on Saturday, December 20. The second got here through Instagram, the place Elizabeth Gillies — one in every of Grande’s longtime mates — shared images from contained in the pop star’s dressing room.
In a single snapshot, Slater sat casually on the sting of a sofa alongside mates as they gathered to rejoice Grande’s evening. One other picture confirmed Slater seated subsequent to Grande, 32, because the group raised glasses stuffed with bubbles in a toast, marking the milestone second.
Gillies, who starred with Grande within the Broadway musical 13, captioned the carousel with a heartfelt message: “No person does it such as you, dingus. What a deal with it’s to observe you employ your many abilities and items and use them so effortlessly properly. One other good episode.”
Grande rapidly confirmed her love within the feedback, replying, “I really like you a lot 🥹,” whereas followers zeroed in on Slater’s look within the background. “Ethannnn!” one follower wrote, whereas one other joked, “Ethan????? so does that imply…???”
Grande and Slater first sparked romance rumors in July 2023 after starring collectively in Depraved. The 2 started relationship following separate divorces and have largely saved their relationship out of the highlight ever since. Nonetheless, they’ve been noticed collectively at a handful of main occasions, together with the Academy Awards in March, and made a number of public appearances all through November whereas selling Depraved: For Good throughout Europe and the U.S.
Although Slater tends to remain quiet about his private life, he did briefly open up about Grande throughout a September interview with Folks, whereas discussing her upcoming Everlasting Sunshine Tour, which kicks off in June 2026. “Ari’s followers are unbelievable and unbelievable and ferocious of their help of her — and it’s an attractive factor,” he mentioned.
Grande’s newest internet hosting stint marked her third time main SNL — and the episode additionally carried additional emotional weight. The evening doubled as a farewell for her Depraved costar Bowen Yang, who made his remaining look after seven seasons on the present.
After the episode wrapped, Grande paid tribute to Yang through Instagram Tales, writing, “I really like you greater than phrases can say and I’m simply so very pleased with you and all the eggnog you’ve made over time. It meant greater than phrases can say to have been there on your sendoff final evening. Pleased trails, my good and exquisite good friend.”
