Ethan Slater Says Girlfriend Ariana Grande Is ‘Out of This World’ in Wicked: For Good 

Ethan Slater is praising his girlfriend Ariana Grande’s performance in Wicked: For Good.

In a new interview with Extra at the New York City premiere of the second Wicked film, Slater, 33, said, “Ariana [Grande]’s performance is out of this world and Cynthia [Erivo]’s performance is unbelievable.”

The actor continued saluting his and Grande’s costars, adding, “And Johnny [Bailey] is so beautiful, and Michelle [Yeoh] and Jeff [Goldblum] and I got to work with Marissa [Bode], you know, from this close away for this whole movie and yet getting to see her on the big screen, it’s just so moving.”

“I’m so proud of this movie and it’s so different from the first one, and yet it feels like the obvious true continuation of it,” Slater added, before speaking on Grande’s friendship with Erivo, who stars in the film as Elphaba Thropp, later known as the Wicked Witch of the West.

“They really do just communicate off camera even more than they do on camera. And I think that that’s what makes their friendship really beautiful to witness is the ways that they help each other through… the craziness of this,” Slater said.

PEOPLE first confirmed Slater and Grande’s relationship in July 2023. In February of this year, Grande, 32, offered rare commentary on her relationship with Slater during a conversation with their mutual friend Sean Hayes. After Grande and Hayes reminisced on their time sharing a hair and makeup trailer while performing in 2016’s Hairspray Live! during an episode of SmartLess, Hayes called Slater “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 at the time. “He did Good Night, Oscar with me in Chicago. And then he was on Wicked and now you guys are dating, and I love that because you guys make a perfect couple.”

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“Yeah, he’s amazing,” Grande said, as Hayes praised the couple. “Thank you, he’s amazing and he loves you.”

Grande recently included Slater in a carousel of photos from Wicked: For Good’s London premiere, and on Nov. 12 a source told PEOPLE the couple remain close. 

“They both have a lot going on, but their relationship is the real deal,” the source said. “They’re incredibly supportive of each other’s careers and so excited for everyone to see their new film.”

Wicked: For Good hits theaters on Nov. 21.