There’s no way Ethan Slater would have missed his chance to see Ariana Grande shine at the 2025 Oscars.
As Grande, 31, opened the awards show on Sunday, March 2, to perform a medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz movie adaptations over the years, Slater, 32, made sure he was seated inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to watch his girlfriend shine.
After the singer performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Defying Gravity,” the camera panned to Slater who appeared more than proud as he stood up and clapped.
Before the opening number, both Grande and Slater walked the red carpet separately as they celebrated the success of Wicked.
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Grande, 31, looked magical for the special awards show while wearing a Schiaparelli Couture gown styled by Mimi Cuttrell. As for Slater, 32, he looked handsome whille following the black-tie dress code with a classic suit.
the way Ethan slater looked at ariana grande after that amazing performance #Oscars #Oscars2025 pic.twitter.com/fuZo5TbBYK
— Cloud9ineDreams
(@Cloud9ineDreams) March 3, 2025
The 97th annual Academy Awards served as a grand finale for the Wicked cast of an unforgettable awards season.
Grande was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role thanks to her performance as Galinda. Meanwhile, her costar and close friend Cynthia Erivo was up for Best Actress in a Leading Role after portraying Elphaba.
Before any trophy was handed out, Slater gushed exclusively to Us Weekly about how impressed he was by his girlfriend’s latest role on the big screen.
“I’m unbelievably proud of her,” Slater said at the 40th Artios Awards in New York City on February 12. “She worked so hard. She and Cynthia worked so unbelievably hard to not only make this movie and be the best versions of Glinda and Elphaba, but to promote it. They’re incredible. I’m unendingly proud.”
With Wicked earning 10 total Oscar nominations, it would be understandable if the cast was a little nervous or overwhelmed with the whole season of awards.
But according to Slater, who played Boq in the film, the cast was just “riding the wave.”
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“We’re all having fun,” he explained. “We’re all just rooting for each other because we get to still celebrate this thing that we loved to make. Whether we win or lose, it’s just a big celebration to be able to do the thing that we love so much. It’s really special.”
Slater and Grande have been dating since July 2023. While they try to keep their relationship away from the public eye, the “Into You” singer recently gushed about her boyfriend.
“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about,” Grande gushed to Vanity Fair in September 2024. “There is no one on this earth with a better heart.”
