Ariana Grande Addresses ‘Growing Apart’ in Past Relationship

Ariana Grande embraced her theater roots for her starring role as Glinda in the on-screen adaptation of the hit musical Wicked. But the acting portion, she said, hit close to home.

Grande, 31, appeared on the “Las Culturistas” podcast with Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers on November 6, and opened up about how she was able to relate her role to a past relationship.

“We hit our marks and we do our thing and we sing our songs and we do what we’re supposed to do. But it really felt so real,” she said on the podcast. Grande added that what she felt in the moment mirrored how she felt in real life.

“But the paths that you need to take are different for your own truth and life and who you are,” she added. “It’s like, you can’t actually continue growing together. You’re growing apart and you can still love that person so much and acknowledge that that’s gonna be best for them, but it’s not gonna be best for me.”

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While not disclosing who she was talking about in particular, she stressed the importance of staying true to herself.

“So I do have to not self-abandon in this moment,” she continued. “And I have to stay where I am. And I want you to go there, but I can’t join you.”

Grande is currently in a relationship with her Wicked costar Ethan Slater, whom she began dating after her separation from ex-husband Dalton Gomez. Grande was first linked to Gomez, 29, in 2020 and they married mid-pandemic. Grande filed for divorce in September 2023.

She’s also dated Big Sean and the late Mac Miller, and was previously engaged to Pete Davidson.

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The pop-star-turned-actress added that while filming Wicked evoked some real feelings for her, it was all for her craft — and fans should expect to see more acting roles in her future.

“Reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater, and who loves comedy, and it heals me to do that — finding roles to use these parts of myself and put them in little homes and characters and bits and voices and songs,” Grande said. “Whatever makes sense, or whatever roles we see fit, or where I could really do a good job or honor the material, I would really love to. I think it’s a lot better for me. I’m getting emotional.”

She was sure to emphasize that her fans need not fear — she will also continue making music.

“I’m always going to make music, I’m always going to go on stage, I’m always going to do pop stuff,” she said, “I pinky promise. But I don’t think doing it at the rate I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years.”