Wicked was a global phenomenon, and while Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s interviews kept us entertained, all eyes were on Ethan Slater.
The SpongeBob Broadway star and Grammy-winning singer struck up a relationship after meeting on set and splitting with their respective partners.
Despite the bubbling romance, the pair kept things out of the spotlight and by the time Wicked: For Good was ready for promotion, split rumours were flying.
Ethan, 33, and Ariana, 32, were rarely seen together during the press tour as he attended only a handful of premieres and cast Q&As.
This is likely due to the fact Boq, the munchkin played by Ethan, is off skipping down the yellow brick road rather than on-screen for much of the second film.
However, that didn’t stop fans speculating that in the three years since filming began, things had fizzled out.
An insider has now assured everyone that the pair are actually more like an ‘old married couple’ and are still going strong.
‘Ariana put Ethan on the back burner while she was promoting the movie,’ one insider told the Daily Mail.
‘But they’re in a solid place now. They’re like an old married couple at home. They’d rather hang out together and do simple things like play board games or binge-watch shows rather than go out to fancy places.’
Ethan accidentally added to speculation after he sidestepped a question about ‘working with your girlfriend’ while on the Today show.
Instead, he praised the cast as a whole, calling Ariana ‘brilliant’ but noting Cynthia is equally ‘remarkable’.
The insider claimed this was to prevent his and the Eternal Sunshine hitmaker’s relationship from taking centre stage once again.
They shared: ‘Although he’s in the movie, he’s not a selling tool like Ariana and Cynthia. He’s a pro and understands the business. That’s why he was OK with it.’
The two lead actresses formed a fast friendship while filming, resulting in teary interviews and frequent viral moments during promotion.
While their double act was less central during For Good’s press tour, their bond was as strong as ever, with Cynthia rushing to protect Ariana while on the yellow carpet.
A man unexpectedly rushed at the Ordinary Things singer during the Wicked: For Good premiere in Singapore, and he was later deported.
Ariana, who has been in several high-profile relationships, has rarely spoken about Ethan but did open up during her Vanity Fair interview.
‘No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about,’ she said at the time. ‘There is no one on this earth with a better heart.’
She took aim at the speculation that her relationship with Ethan began before separating from husband Dalton Gomez, who she married in 2021.
Fans were also furious at the Gen V actor who had been married to his childhood sweetheart, Lilly Jay and recently welcomed a child before Wicked.
‘The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,’ Ariana said.
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