Ariana Grande Gushes Over 'Amazing' Boyfriend Ethan Slater While Catching Up with Their Mutual Friend Sean Hayes

Mar. 15, 2025

Ethan Slater, Ariana Grande, Sean Hayes.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Emma McIntyre/Getty

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Bruce Glikas/WireImage; Emma McIntyre/Getty

Ariana GrandeandSean Hayesare bonding over their mutual love forEthan Slater!After Grande, 31, and Hayes, 54, reminisced on their time sharing a hair and makeup trailer while performing in 2016’sHairspray Live!during the Monday, Feb. 3 episode ofSmartLess, Hayes shouted out Slater, 32, as “a very good friend of mine.““Yes, he loves you so much,” Grande replied.“I love him too. Ethan Slater. He’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet in your life,” Hayes added. “He didGood Night, Oscarwith me in Chicago. And then he was onWickedand now you guys are dating, and I love that because you guys make a perfect couple.“Grande, who is nominated for anAcademy Awardfor her role as Glinda inWicked: Part One,first metSlater when they began filming the two-partWickedadaptation in London in late 2022. PEOPLE firstconfirmed their relationshipin July 2023 after Ariana and Slaterseparatedfrom their then-partnersat the time.Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater.Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty; Santiago Felipe/Getty"Yeah, he’s amazing,” Grande said onSmartLessas Hayes complimented her and her boyfriend. “Thank you, he’s amazing and he loves you.“Grande and Slater remained low-key when it came to public appearances together for much of 2024. They stepped out together throughoutWicked’s press tour before the movie released in November and continually support each other on Instagram.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Slater and Grande most recently shared an inside look at their relationship when Slater — who portrays Boq inWicked— posted a photo on Instagram of Grande looking out a balcony window inLondonfrom inside a bedroom as she held pink balloons while celebrating her Oscar nomination. The actress is nominated at the upcoming Oscars alongsideMonica Barbaro(A Complete Unknown),Felicity Jones(The Brutalist),Isabella Rossellini(Conclave) andZoe Saldaña(Emilia Pérez).Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Getty ImagesGrande reacted to her Oscars nod whennominations were announcedon Thursday, Jan. 23, writing on Instagram that she was “picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition.““i cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise. i’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just before the big, beautiful bubble entered,” she wrote at that time. “i’m so proud of you, tiny. thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for this acknowledgement @theacademy.“In addition to Grande’s Academy Award nomination, she is also nominated for best supporting actress at the upcomingCritics Choice Awardson Friday, Feb. 7 and at theSAG Awards, which will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23.

Ariana GrandeandSean Hayesare bonding over their mutual love forEthan Slater!

After Grande, 31, and Hayes, 54, reminisced on their time sharing a hair and makeup trailer while performing in 2016’sHairspray Live!during the Monday, Feb. 3 episode ofSmartLess, Hayes shouted out Slater, 32, as “a very good friend of mine.”

“Yes, he loves you so much,” Grande replied.

“I love him too. Ethan Slater. He’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet in your life,” Hayes added. “He didGood Night, Oscarwith me in Chicago. And then he was onWickedand now you guys are dating, and I love that because you guys make a perfect couple.”

Grande, who is nominated for anAcademy Awardfor her role as Glinda inWicked: Part One,first metSlater when they began filming the two-partWickedadaptation in London in late 2022. PEOPLE firstconfirmed their relationshipin July 2023 after Ariana and Slaterseparatedfrom their then-partnersat the time.

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater.Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty; Santiago Felipe/Getty

Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty; Santiago Felipe/Getty

“Yeah, he’s amazing,” Grande said onSmartLessas Hayes complimented her and her boyfriend. “Thank you, he’s amazing and he loves you.”

Grande and Slater remained low-key when it came to public appearances together for much of 2024. They stepped out together throughoutWicked’s press tour before the movie released in November and continually support each other on Instagram.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Slater and Grande most recently shared an inside look at their relationship when Slater — who portrays Boq inWicked— posted a photo on Instagram of Grande looking out a balcony window inLondonfrom inside a bedroom as she held pink balloons while celebrating her Oscar nomination. The actress is nominated at the upcoming Oscars alongsideMonica Barbaro(A Complete Unknown),Felicity Jones(The Brutalist),Isabella Rossellini(Conclave) andZoe Saldaña(Emilia Pérez).

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Grande reacted to her Oscars nod whennominations were announcedon Thursday, Jan. 23, writing on Instagram that she was “picking my head up in between sobs to say thank you so much to @theacademy for this unfathomable recognition.”

“i cannot stop crying, to no one’s surprise. i’m humbled and deeply honored to be in such brilliant company and sharing this with tiny ari who sat and studied Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow just before the big, beautiful bubble entered,” she wrote at that time. “i’m so proud of you, tiny. thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for this acknowledgement @theacademy.“In addition to Grande’s Academy Award nomination, she is also nominated for best supporting actress at the upcomingCritics Choice Awardson Friday, Feb. 7 and at theSAG Awards, which will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23.

source: people.com