In a joint interview with costar Cynthia Erivo, Grande praised Slater, a former SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical actor, for his kindness and support. She highlighted how thoughtful he is, even helping her with her red-carpet gowns. "He's always adorable, so thoughtful, and truly wonderful in this movie. I'm just so happy people are getting to know him. My heart feels so full," she shared.
On the same night, Slater, who plays Boq in Wicked, spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the joy of working with Grande. "I am incredibly proud of Ariana," he said. "She's phenomenal in the film, and it's been amazing to celebrate this journey together."
In a recent GQ interview published on Oct. 30, Slater reflected on the challenges of their public relationship. He acknowledged how tough it can be when private matters become public. "Some of the hardest parts are those personal-life aspects that everyone deals with," he said. "I try to focus on the real people in my life and not on the online chatter."
Grande and Slater's relationship went public in July 2023 after they met on the set of Wicked. Alongside them, the cast includes Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, and Michelle Yeoh in the Jon M. Chu-directed adaptation.
The Wicked film will be released in two parts: the first installment hits theaters on Nov. 22, 2024, with the second following on Nov. 26, 2025.
