Ethan Slater Second-Guessing Romance With Ariana Grande, ‘Drowning’ in ‘Circus of Her Life’ (Report)

Ethan Slater is said to be struggling to keep up with Ariana Grande’s glamorous life nearly a month after Star exclusively revealed that he was spotted out with his ex-wife.

“He sometimes wonders if he should have stayed in his quieter world,” a source told the Daily Mail in a story published on Wednesday, October 1.

Slater, 33, reportedly split from his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, after five years of marriage in July 2023, when he began dating his Wicked costar, 32, following her split from her husband of two years, Dalton Gamez.

But the spotlight on his new romance was a lot harsher than the actor expected, another insider told the Daily Mail, adding that the “thank u, next” singer’s hectic schedule — Grande is currently preparing to embark on her Eternal Sunshine tour next year — is also causing issues.

“He loves her, but he’s drowning in the circus of her life,” the insider explained to the outlet. “He’s used to a controlled Broadway stage, not sold-out arenas screaming for [her] every move. It’s exhausting just watching him try to keep up.”

The Daily Mail also reported that Slater has repaired his relationship with his ex and the pair are successfully co-parenting their 3-year-old son.

As Star previously reported, Slater looked “really happy” while spending time with Jay and the child in Jersey City, New Jersey on September 5. Two days later, Grande hit the MTV VMAs with her entourage — which did not include Slater, according to the Daily Mail.