Ariana Grande's Boyfriend Ethan Slater Breaks Silence on Son, 3, After Months of Privacy

Ethan Slater has spoken publicly about his three-year-old son for the first time in months, offering a rare glimpse into how he approaches fatherhood while his relationship with Ariana Grande remains under intense public attention.

The Wicked actor, 33, shares his son with ex-wife Lilly Jay. While Slater has largely avoided mentioning his son since his romance with Grande made headlines, he now says that silence has been deliberate. In a recent podcast appearance, he explained that he prefers to keep stories about his child private so his son can grow up without being shaped by public opinion before he even understands it.

According to Daily Mail's report on Ethan Slater's rare comment, Slater appeared on comedian Gianmarco Soresi's podcast The Downside and said he avoids telling stories or anecdotes about his son because he wants him to meet the world 'on his own terms.' He added that he wants the world to meet his child the same way, without outside narratives forming first.

Why Ethan Slater Says He Has Avoided Speaking About His Son

Slater's explanation centred on privacy rather than secrecy. He framed the decision as a way of protecting his child's autonomy, which has become a more common approach among public figures who want to separate their careers from their family lives.

That choice also reflects how quickly his life changed. Since his relationship with Grande became widely reported, Slater has faced constant interest in his personal timeline, his divorce, and the circumstances of his new relationship. Against that backdrop, mentioning his son publicly could easily spark more headlines and speculation about a child who has no control over any of it.

Instead, Slater appears intent on keeping fatherhood off-limits. He is not presenting it as a temporary decision but as a principle.

The Podcast Moment That Revealed a More Personal Side

During the same conversation, Slater also shared that he has been speaking with his son about Jewish identity. He described lighting candles and discussing what it means to be Jewish as meaningful experiences as a parent.

Slater suggested the conversation was prompted by last year's tragedy at Australia's Bondi Beach, which he said shaped how he thought about the world his son is growing up in. While he did not offer detailed personal anecdotes, he made it clear that fatherhood is shaping how he processes serious events.

His rare comment was not about celebrity parenting as a lifestyle brand but about parenting as something protective and reflective.

How His Relationship With Ariana Grande Raised Public Curiosity

Slater's private life has been under a microscope since his romance with Grande became public during the filming of Wicked. He plays Boq Woodsman in the film adaptation and its sequel, while Grande stars as Glinda.

The relationship reportedly began between late 2022 and mid-2023 while filming in London. Controversy intensified because Slater was still married to Jay when reports emerged that he and Grande were together. Their divorce was finalised in September 2023, according to the Daily Mail.

Grande also went through her own separation at the same time, finalising her divorce from Dalton Gomez in October 2023 after 21 months of marriage.

That overlap made the couple a constant topic online. Even now, the internet continues to revisit the timeline, which is one reason Slater's recent remarks on fatherhood stands out.

What We Know About Slater's Life Since the Divorce

A profile in Men's Journal described Grande and Slater meeting in late 2022 and being confirmed as dating by mid-2023. The piece also noted that both had been married when they met, and that Slater filed for divorce in July 2023. It added that the couple later kept their relationship relatively private, with occasional appearances during awards season and Wicked press moments.

Men's Journal also referenced recent speculation that the two had split, though rumours eased after Slater was spotted supporting Grande during her December 2025 Saturday Night Live appearance.

Slater's remarks drew attention as they marked his first personal comments in months, separate from speculation about his relationship with Grande.

Why Fans Are Reading This as a Shift in Tone

He did not reference Grande directly and avoided framing fatherhood as part of a celebrity narrative. Instead, he stressed one point: his son should remain outside public conversation.

The statement, while brief, signalled that Slater intends to maintain boundaries around his family life even as his relationship with Grande continues to attract coverage. For now, Slater's position is clear: his relationship may be public, but his son is not.