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Frankie Grande has enthusiastically endorsed his sister Ariana Grande's relationship with Ethan Slater. Speaking to TooFab, Frankie expressed his admiration for Slater, whom he described as "a very sweet guy." Frankie shared that his appreciation for Slater dates back to his performance in the SpongeBob SquarePants Broadway musical. "I’ve been a fan of him ever since seeing him in SpongeBob," Frankie said, noting their bond through the Broadway community, which he calls "a tight-knit family."
Frankie has had multiple opportunities to interact with Slater, even interviewing him for a SpongeBob SquarePants podcast. He emphasized, "He’s a great guy. Ethan’s a wonderful guy... I adore him. All I want is for my sister to be happy, and when she’s happy, I’m happy. So, I’m very happy."
Ariana and Slater co-star in the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked, where they met on set. Their relationship became public in July 2023 after Ariana's separation from Dalton Gomez. Slater, too, had recently separated from his wife, Lilly Jay. Despite initial controversy over their relationship timeline, it has since flourished, with the couple moving in together in New York City by October 2023.
A source confirmed their strong bond, describing them as "a little dorky and theater geeks at heart," and adding, "Their relationship is blossoming. It’s effortless with zero drama." Another insider noted Slater's move to New York to live with Ariana, reinforcing the seriousness of their commitment.
Reflecting on Ariana's casting as Glinda in Wicked, Frankie recounted the emotional moment she shared the news. "We were messes when she told us... both of us hit the ground, on the floor, weeping," he said. He described the experience as "absolutely magical."
Ariana addressed public scrutiny of her relationship in a February 2024 interview on the "Zach Sang Show" on Twitch, expressing frustration over misunderstandings. "There’s like an insatiable frustration... with watching people misunderstand the people you love," she said.
