Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are deeply in love, but they're struggling with the lack of respect they receive from friends and fans, causing considerable tension and sadness behind the scenes. The singer in particular, is said to be struggling with the hate that she's receiving, which calls for her to make some adjustments.
According to an insider speaking exclusively to Life & Style, Ariana, 30, and Ethan, 32, are accustomed to receiving praise and adoration wherever they go.
Transitioning from that to being judged as a cold-hearted home wrecker has been a significant adjustment for Grande. The insider reveals that they both receive hate messages from the public, and although they try to avoid reading them, Grande in particular, often finds herself in tears after succumbing to the temptation.
The source explains that Ariana and Ethan feel as though they're constantly battling against public opinion. Despite finding love with each other, they feel misunderstood and unfairly judged due to the circumstances surrounding their relationship, particularly Ethan's previous marriage to Lilly Jay.
Grande believes that if people knew the full story, their perception would change, but attempts to defend herself only invite more criticism.
"She's found this man she loves. Sure, the circumstances of how they got together may look bad, but that's because no one knows the details firsthand," the insider continues. "She's sure people would have a different view if they were in her shoes. But any time she tries to defend herself, she gets a whole new onslaught of hate," the source specifically said.
The singer wants to be out and open about her romance with Slater but at the rate things are going, this seems impossible.
"She wants to be much more open about things and celebrate their love, but how can she when people just tear them to pieces every time they're seen together," the source said.
Reports of Ariana's relationship with Ethan surfaced following her split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez in summer 2023.
Ethan filed for divorce from Lilly shortly thereafter, leading to speculation that he left his wife for Ariana. Although neither Ariana nor Ethan have addressed the reason behind his divorce publicly, Lilly's comments to Page Six shed some light on the situation, hinting at her feelings toward Ariana.
Despite facing backlash, Ariana and Ethan's relationship appears to be going strong almost a year after it was revealed. Ariana's brother, Frankie seems to be in full support of this relationship though.
As Frankie put it, he adores Ethan because he's a sweet guy, but the real test of Ethan's character all just boils down to how his sister feels about him.
"Honestly, I've always just said this, all I want is for my sister to be happy," he explained. "When she's happy, I'm happy. So, I'm very happy."
The couple recently enjoyed a public date night at the 2024 Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Florida, on June 8, showcasing their commitment to each other despite the challenges they face from the public eye.
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