Ariana Grande’s dating history, revealed: from her whirlwind engagement to Pete Davidson and the heartbreak of losing Mac Miller, to getting together with her Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater

Mar 8 , 2024

Ariana Grande’s significant others over the years have included (from left) Big Sean, Pete Davidson and Nathan Sykes. Photos: Getty Images

In the glitzy universe of pop culture, few stars shine as brightly as Ariana Grande. Renowned for her celestial voice, huge presence on social media, and a persona that encapsulates both charm and controversy, Grande has not only dominated charts but also headlines – particularly when it comes to her colourful dating history.

Ariana Grande stars as Glinda in this year’s Wicked film, alongside Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Photo: @arianagrande/Instagram

Although it’s not just her romantic entanglements that have sparked conversations: so have her past disputes, such as reported tensions with Grande’s former co-star on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, Victoria Justice.

Ariana Grande teased the release of her latest studio album, Eternal Sunshine, in early March. Photo: @arianagrande/Instagram

Grande stands at the beginning of another surely monumental year, with her seventh album Eternal Sunshine releasing on March 8 and her role in the upcoming adaptation of Wicked.

Keep scrolling to revisit Grande’s romantic history over the past decade and a half.

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1. Graham Phillips

Graham Phillips and Ariana Grande in Beverly Hills, California, in 2011. Photo: Getty Images

Rewinding to 2008, Grande met actor Graham Phillips when the two were starring in the hit Broadway musical 13, sparking their teenage romance. In 2010, the duo collaborated on the song “Stick Around”. Although they split the following year, their connection endured, leading to a warm reunion in July 2016 with former castmates.

2. Jai Brooks

Jai Brooks pictured in New York City, in 2014. Photo: Getty Images for AWXI

Grande’s relationship with Australian YouTube comedian Jai Brooks marked her entry into the public dating arena. The pair officially got together in October 2012 and experienced ups and downs from the get-go, breaking up in August 2013.

Two months later, Brooks took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Grande of cheating on him with The Wanted’s Nathan Sykes. Grande refuted the allegations, with a source close to Grande reportedly adding that Brooks simply wanted “his 15 minutes of fame”. Despite reconciling in the spring of 2014, by August the pair had concluded their relationship for good.

3. Nathan Sykes

Ariana Grande and Nathan Sykes in London, in 2013. Photo: Getty Images

Grande and Sykes started dating in August 2013, soon after their collaboration on “Almost is Never Enough” for the The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones soundtrack. However, by January 2014, the spark had apparently weakened, with Grande citing distance as the main reason in a radio interview.

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4. Big Sean

Big Sean and Ariana Grande at the 2015 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images

Grande became one half of a high-profile celebrity couple when she began dating rapper Big Sean in August 2014. The pair definitely seemed happy while they were together, with each calling each other “amazing” shortly after getting together, per MTV.

Complicating matters though, the late actress Naya Rivera, Big Sean’s ex-fiancée, revealed a moment of surprise in her memoir: she encountered Grande at Big Sean’s house while Rivera and the rapper were still engaged.

Despite the apparent intensity of their bond, Grande and Big Sean parted ways in April 2015.

5. Mac Miller

Mac Miller and Ariana Grande performing on stage in June 2017, in Manchester, England. Photo: Getty Images

Grande and rapper Mac Miller went from musical to romantic partners, and their relationship remains one of Grande’s most heartbreaking. Together from August 2016 until May 2018, the pair immortalised their bond in their song “The Way”.

After their break-up, Grande honoured Miller with a heartfelt Instagram post expressing her enduring affection. After his tragic passing in September 2018, she recorded her hit album Thank U, Next, remembering him fondly on the track “Ghostin’”, per Vogue.

6. Pete Davidson

Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson’s relationship was a whirlwind one, with the pair getting engaged and moving in together within a month of officially dating. Photo: @arianagrande/Instagram

Grande’s brief engagement to comedian Pete Davidson sent the media into a frenzy. Their relationship escalated rapidly from dating to engagement from May to June of 2018. The couple quickly went public with their relationship, with Davidson presenting Grande with a US$93,000 engagement ring before spending the summer flaunting their romance. The couple adopted a pet pig and moved into a luxurious Manhattan apartment in June.

However, the pair’s split was confirmed in October 2018, with reports on TMZ suggesting that the singer felt their relationship had been too much, too soon.

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7. Dalton Gomez

Property agent Dalton Gomez and Ariana Grande were married in May 2021. The pair finalised their divorce in October 2023. Photo: @arianagrande/Instagram

Speculation about Grande’s romance with luxury property agent Dalton Gomez began in February 2020 when they were spotted kissing in LA; it was later confirmed their relationship had begun a month earlier. Grande used the music video for her May 2020 song with Justin Bieber, “Stuck with U”, to announce her relationship, sharing an intimate hug with Gomez towards the end of the song.

By December, Grande was showing off another engagement ring on Instagram. The pair married in a small, intimate ceremony in May 2021. However, by July 2023, news broke that Grande and Gomez had decided to part ways.

8. Ethan Slater

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater were photographed at dinner by their Wicked co-star, Michelle Yeoh, in March 2023. Photo: @michelleyeoh_official/Instagram

Amid a whirlwind of media attention, in July 2023, Grande was revealed to be dating Ethan Slater, her Wicked co-star. Both were still married when rumours of their romance began to circulate, but their respective teams issued statements explaining that they did not cheat on their partners with each other, but waited until they were both single. The situation grabbed even more public attention as Slater split from his wife, Lilly Jay, with Jay commenting to media about how she felt blindsided by his reported relationship with Grande.

Now, the pair openly share their happiness in public, presenting a united front to the world as they embark on their new journey together.

Fame and celebrity

The songstress’ love life is as eventful as her career is remarkable, from getting engaged to comedian Pete Davidson after a month of officially dating, to losing her ex, Mac Miller, far too soon
Now happily dating Ethan Slater, whom she met on the set of Wicked, Grande was also linked to rapper Big Sean and, of course, briefly married to luxury property agent Dalton Gomez