Ethan Slater Reacts to Speculation Ariana Grande's 'Imperfect for You' Is About Him: 'I Love That Song'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ariana Grande in June 2024; Ethan Slater in November 2023.Photo:Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Getty Images

DidAriana Grandewrite"Imperfect for You"aboutEthan Slater?

After fans speculated Grande’s heartfeltEternal Sunshinetrack was written about her boyfriend andWickedcostar, Slater reacted to the rumors in a newGQ Hypecover story interviewpublished Thursday, Oct. 30.

The lyrics of “Imperfect for You” find Grande discussing a complicated romantic relationship. “My boy, come take my hand / Throw your guitar and your clothes in the back seat / My love, they don’t understand / But I’ll hold your hurt in the box here beside me,” she sings on the first verse.

Ethan Slater New York City in November 2023.Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

The Grammy winner and Slater’s relationship began afterGrande’s separationfrom her husband,Dalton Gomez, andSlater’s separationfrom his wife, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a 2-year-old son.

He continued, “There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening, so 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. So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard.”

Ariana Grande; Ethan Slater in May 2022.Art Streiber/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty; Eugene Gologursky/Getty

Art Streiber/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty; Eugene Gologursky/Getty

“But, of course, it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing,” added Slater, “and I’m just really excited.”

TheSpongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musicalstar also expressed feeling “really, really proud” of Grande’s work onWicked. “She’s poured herself into it,” he said.

“I’m really proud that I got to be there for that part of it, and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did,” gushed Slater.

Wickedhits theaters Nov. 22.

source: people.com