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After All Those Messy Cheating Allegations, Frankie Grande Said Ethan Slater Is A “Wonderful Guy” Who Makes Ariana Grande Very “Happy”

“All I want is for my sister to be happy, and when she's happy, I’m happy.”

Ellen Durney
by Ellen Durney

BuzzFeed Staff

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If you can believe it, it’s nearly been an entire year since the Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater drama took over our timelines.

Ariana Grande on the red carpet wearing an elegant strapless gown and decorative butterfly accessories on her face. Other people are visible in the background
Gilbert Flores / Variety via Getty Images

For a reminder, news of Ariana’s divorce from Dalton Gomez broke on July 17, and within three days, reports claimed she was already dating Ethan, her Wicked costar.

Closeup of Ethan Slater
Bruce Glikas / Bruce Glikas / Getty Images

At the time, reports of the budding romance were met with some apprehension because Ethan was also newly single after ending his marriage to Lilly Jay, with whom he had welcomed a son a year prior.

Lilly Jay and Ethan are smiling, standing in front of a flower wall on the red carpet
Walter Mcbride / WireImage
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Before long, fans questioned the timeline of Ari and Ethan’s relationship, with rumors swirling that the pair had engaged in an affair on the Wicked set. To make matters messier, Lilly, Ethan’s ex, also publicly criticized Ariana, branding her as “not a girl’s girl.”

Ariana Grande on stage, wearing a strapless tiered dress with floral details, holding a microphone and smiling
David Becker / WireImage

At the height of the drama, sources close to the couple vehemently denied the infidelity rumors, saying instead that they only started dating after both parties were single.

Ariana Grande smiles while wearing a strapless dress paired with gemstone earrings and a matching necklace
Marleen Moise / Getty Images

Ariana and Ethan have never addressed the rumors directly, although Ari did seem to hit back at her critics in her single, “yes, and?,” singing: “Your business is yours and mine is mine / Why do you care so much whose dick I ride?”

And now that the dust has settled on all the speculation, it seems Ari and Ethan are going strong as an item — at least, that’s what her brother says.

Frankie Grande, in a colorful outfit with bold makeup and tattoos, is hugged by Ariana Grande, who is wearing a casual outfit and a cap
Bruce Glikas / Bruce Glikas / Getty Images

At a launch party in Los Angeles this week, Frankie Grande told TooFab on the red carpet that he thinks Ethan is a “great,” “wonderful guy.”

Ethan is seated, smiling, and holding a microphone during an interview
Rob Kim / Getty Images

“I love him, he’s a very sweet guy,” Frankie said, revealing that he and Ethan actually go way back. “I’ve been a fan of him ever since seeing him in SpongeBob [the musical]. And I actually got to interview him when I was doing the SpongeBob SquarePants podcast. The Broadway community is a tight-knit family.”

After Frankie agreed that Ethan definitely has his brotherly seal of approval, the reporter asked if the actor is his favorite “partner” of Ariana’s — although he avoided the question by responding: “My favorite Broadway, Tony-nominated actor? Absolutely!”

Closeup of Ethan Slater at the Tony Awards
Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

Jokes aside, Frankie sang Ethan’s praises and said that he’s pleased Ari’s found a partner who brings her so much joy.

Ariana Grande poses on the red carpet, wearing a strapless gown and white butterfly hair accessories, with photographers in the background
Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images

“He’s very sweet. He’s very, very, very sweet. I just, I adore him,” he said. “I, honestly, I’ve always just said this. All I want is for my sister to be happy, and when she’s happy, I’m happy.”

Frankie’s comments about the relationship echo a recent report from Entertainment Tonight, which claimed that Ariana and Ethan are “getting more serious.”

Closeup of Ethan Slater
Dominik Bindl / WireImage

“Ariana is feeling great in general and super proud of her new album,” a source said following the release of Eternal Sunshine in March. “Ethan has been by her side, supporting her both personally and professionally.”


“They’re looking towards the future and everything that’s in store for them as a couple and as individuals,” the insider continued. 

You can watch Frankie’s interview with TooFab here.

View this video on YouTube
TooFab / YouTube / Instagram

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