AceShowbiz - Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's romance has been a topic of intense public scrutiny ever since news of their relationship surfaced amid their separations from respective spouses. The duo connected on the set of the highly anticipated "Wicked" film adaptation, and Slater reflected on the complexities and joys of their relationship in a recent interview.

Slater, 32, revealed in a GQ profile published on October 30 that going public with their relationship was "really difficult" because of the criticisms. He elaborated, "I think there was something that was really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public," citing the major changes happening in both their personal lives as they were going through divorces.

Slater and his ex-wife, Lilly Jay, share a two-year-old son while Grande finalized her divorce from Dalton Gomez in October 2023.

The speculation around the timing of their relationship caused an online uproar, with many labeling Grande, 31, as a "homewrecker." However, sources close to the couple clarified that Grande and Slater started dating two months after ending their respective marriages.

Slater emphasized how challenging it was to see people who don't know the full story commenting and speculating about their private lives, "It's really hard to see people who don't know anything about what's happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love."

Despite the public pressure, both Grande and Slater have spoken highly of each other. In a Vanity Fair interview in September, Grande expressed her disappointment over the public's negative perception of Slater, stating, "The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of [our relationship]." She lauded Slater, calling him someone with "a better heart" and criticized tabloids for spreading inaccurate stories about him.

Slater reciprocated this admiration in his GQ interview, praising Grande's dedication to her role as Glinda in "Wicked" and calling her a "genius" and "one of the best comedians to be in a movie in a long time." He also shared his excitement for the world to see her contributions to the film when it premieres in theaters on November 22.

Reflecting on the past year, Slater described it as "amazing" and a "beautiful thing," despite the hardships brought by public scrutiny. He emphasized focusing on the real people in his life rather than "the Twitter people who comment on it."

Grande echoed this sentiment in her music, most notably in the song "Yes, And?" where she openly dismisses the critics of her personal life.

As they continue to navigate their relationship under the public eye, Slater and Grande remain steadfast in their support for one another, both personally and professionally, with their shared project, "Wicked," standing as a testament to their collaborative achievements.