Ariana Grande fans got a major shakeup on Thursday when it was reported that the singer and actress had started a new relationship with her Wicked costar Ethan Slater.
And photos originally snapped in May of this year reveal the 30-year-old hitmaker hard at work on the set of her upcoming musical film with her new boyfriend Ethan, 31, as they filmed a scene together.
The lovebirds appeared to be shooting an emotional scene, with Ethan leaning in closely for a conversation with Ariana.
The two stood face to face, and he had his hands in front of him as if to clasp hers, though they weren’t visible behind her.
The evidence of the new couples on-screen collaboration comes amid questions about exactly when their relationship began, as they were said to have begun dating ‘several months ago’ by TMZ, but Ethan shared a loving post praising his now-estranged wife Lilly Jay on May 14 — Mother’s Day — without any hint that they were separated at the time.
Work romance: Ariana Grande, 30, and her new boyfriend Ethan Slater, 31, were pictured in set photos from their upcoming film Wicked that were snapped in the UK on May 31
Timeline: The photos reemerged amid questions about when their relationship began. They were said to have began dating ‘several months ago,’ and Ethan was allegedly separated when they began dating
The scene on set in the UK from May 31 shows Ariana’s character Galinda — later renamed Glinda the Good — arriving at her university, where she says her goodbyes to her parents.
Among those saying goodbye is Ethan’s character Boq, a munchkin who falls in love with Ariana’s blond-haired witch.
However, when she spurns his advances, he ends up with Nessarose, the sister of the green-skinned protagonist Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo.
When Nessarose casts a spell on him in a fit of jealously, Elphaba is forced to cast another spell to counteract the effects, which saves his life but turns him into the character known as the Tin Man.
Boq’s longing for Galinda was on full display in the photos as he appeared to have an intimate conversation with her before she headed off to school.
Following reports that the two are dating, a Mother’s Day post from earlier this year that Ethan addressed to his estranged with Lilly Jay resurfaced.
In the post, he also revealed that the couple’s first child, who was born late last year, was a boy.
‘Happy first Mother’s Day to the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world,’ he wrote, signing it ‘- from me and this little guy.’
The post shared few details about Ethan’s marriage or his son, and instead he posted an out-of-focus shot of the little boy from behind, with his much clearer shadow projected on a wall in front of him.
Unrequited love: Ethan’s character Boq, a munchkin, is in love with Ariana’s character Galinda, though she spurns his advances and passes him off to the sister of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo)
Post: Ariana Grande ‘s rumored new beau Ethan praised his estranged wife in a sweet Instagram post just two months before his apparent new romance with the singer was revealed – seen in 2018 in NYC
A second photo showed an adults hand — presumably Ethan’s — while feeding the little boy, whose hand was covered with food.
It’s unclear from the post, which got a like from Ariana, if Ethan and Lilly were still together at that time.
The couple, who were high school classmates, tied the knot back in 2018.
In January of this year, Ethan revealed his wife Lilly had welcomed a child together by posting a photo of a positive pregnancy test and a ‘Wicked Cute’ baby’s onesie, and he commented, ‘Super vague post, but we have a baby now.’
Another photo in the post showed the shadow of one of the parents pushing a stroller, which fit in with the vague theme and his desire to share few details about his child.
Ethan, 31, began dating Ariana ‘several months ago’ while they were still filming Wicked, sources claimed to TMZ on Thursday.
Ariana reportedly ended things with her husband Dalton Gomez in January of this year.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Ariana and Ethan for comment.
Sex reveal: In his Mother’s Day post, Ethan also revealed that the couple’s first child, who was born late last year, was a boy
Sweet: ‘Happy first Mother’s Day to the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world,’ he wrote, signing it ‘- from me and this little guy.’ It’s unclear from the post, which got a like from Ariana, if Ethan and Lilly were still together at that time
Growing family: In January of this year, Ethan revealed his wife Lilly had welcomed a child together by posting a photo of a positive pregnancy test and a ‘Wicked Cute’ baby’s onesie, and he commented, ‘Super vague post, but we have a baby now’
They go way back: The couple married in 2018 after being high school classmates
Celebration: In November, Ethan celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary on Instagram, where called called his wife, ‘My best friend.’ He added, ‘4 years married, 10 years together.’
TMZ’s sources also claimed that Ethan did not start dating Ariana until after he and Lilly had separated.
In November, Ethan celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary on Instagram, where called called his wife, ‘My best friend.’
He added, ‘4 years married, 10 years together.’
After news of the relationship broke, the Broadway star set his Instagram account — which the God Is A Woman singer followers — to private.
Ethan costars with Ariana in Wicked as Boq, a munchkin who falls in love with her character Glinda, though she goes by Galinda earlier in the story.
However, when she spurns his advances, he ends up with Nessarose, the sister of the green-skinned protagonist Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo.
When Nessarose casts a spell on him in a fit of jealously, Elphaba is forced to cast another spell to counteract the effects, which saves his life but turns him into the character known as the Tin Man.
Ethan has had a few small film roles up to this point, but the two-part adaptation of Wicked appears to be his most substantial film role to date.
He also appeared in a single episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel earlier this year, and he played the real-life actor Joel Gray — best known for playing the Emcee in the original Broadway production of Cabaret and the 1972 film adaptation — in the FX miniseries Fosse/Verdon.
The show starred Sam Rockwell as the choreographer and dancer Bob Fosse, who later graduated to directing classic films including Cabaret and All That Jazz, while Michelle Williams played his third wife, Gwen Verdon, who danced in many of his works and served as his artistic muse.
Although Ethan’s list of film credits isn’t long, he has already established himself as a stage veteran.
Musical fans probably know him for playing the title character in the SpongeBob SquarePants musical. The role earned him a Drama Desk Award, as well as a prestigious Tony Award nomination.
Ethan was previously seen in a photo with Ariana that was snapped in March at a party in London honoring their Wicked costar Michelle Yeoh after she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Out of the spotlight: After news of the relationship broke, the Broadway star set his Instagram account — which the God Is A Woman singer followers — to private
Costars: Ethan costars with Ariana in Wicked as Boq, a munchkin who falls in love with her character Glinda, though she goes by Galinda earlier in the story
Having a blast: Ethan was previously seen in a photo with Ariana that was snapped in March at a party honoring their Wicked costar Michelle Yeoh after she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her acclaimed film Everything Everywhere All At Once
Famous faces: They were joined by costar Cynthia Erivo and Michelle’s former costar Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as Wicked’s director Jon M. Chu
The two lovebirds were seen sitting at a round table and beaming ear to ear while surrounded by Wicked costars and friends.
Cynthia Erivo, who plays the lead role as the green-skinned Elphaba opposite Ariana as Glinda the Good, leaned in to her costar and showed off an infectious smile.
The gathering also included Michelle’s former costar Anya Taylor-Joy, who appeared with her in the 2016 horror-thriller Morgan.
The film’s stars could be seen gathering around a table in a short clip from the event as a cake honoring the Malaysian actress, who initially starred in a string of classic Hong Kong action films before moving to the US and breaking into Hollywood productions.
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