New York’s West Village witnessed a pop culture moment Tuesday night when superstar Ariana Grande and Broadway sensation Ethan Slater were spotted making a hasty exit from the exclusive eatery Violet after what appeared to be an intimate dinner for two.
The “yes, and?” singer attempted to maintain her privacy in an oversized black hoodie pulled low over her face, paired paradoxically with attention-grabbing thigh-high boots—a classic Ariana style contradiction that somehow works. Meanwhile, Slater, best known for his Tony-nominated turn in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical,” kept it casual in a fitted jacket and dark jeans, flashing a brief smile at photographers before the pair ducked into a waiting SUV.
“They looked close but low-key—left quickly once they saw paparazzi,” shared one West Village pedestrian who witnessed the duo’s rapid departure. “She was definitely trying to stay under the radar, but he seemed pretty relaxed about the whole thing.”
This public sighting adds fuel to the romance rumors that have followed the pair since they connected on the set of the highly anticipated “Wicked” film adaptation, where Grande plays Glinda opposite Slater’s Boq. Their timing raised eyebrows in the entertainment world, as both stars finalized divorces in 2023—Grande from real estate broker Dalton Gomez and Slater from his longtime partner Lilly Jay.
Social media erupted within minutes of the photos hitting the internet, with #AriEthan briefly trending as fans dissected every pixel of the images. “The way he looks at her when she’s not looking… that’s not just colleagues,” tweeted one fan detective. Others were more cautious: “Can they breathe first? Maybe they’re just friends discussing their Wicked press tour.”
The dinner date marks a rare public appearance for the duo, who have reportedly been dating quietly for months according to sources close to the production. “They’re trying to keep things private after all the attention when they first got together,” says one insider. “But they’re definitely a thing—just not ready to make it a headline yet.”
Grande, 31, has historically been private about her relationships despite living in the public eye since her Nickelodeon days. The chart-topping artist has been focusing on her dual career tracks of music and acting, with her role as Glinda marking her most significant film project to date.
Slater, 32, catapulted from Broadway fame to wider recognition with his “Wicked” casting, though theater aficionados have long celebrated his remarkable talent. His transition to dating someone of Grande’s stratospheric fame level has undoubtedly brought adjustments to his previously lower-profile life.
Representatives for both stars maintained their silence when contacted about the dinner date, with Grande’s team offering only a standard “no comment on personal matters” response.
Whether this relationship blossoms further or remains in the carefully guarded privacy they seem to prefer, one thing’s certain—the chemistry between these two talented performers has captivated public interest both on and off screen.
As “Wicked” approaches its release date, fans will be watching closely to see if Grande and Slater eventually decide to make their relationship red-carpet official or continue their “defying gravity” approach to dating in the spotlight.
