Ariana Grande is contemplating a year marked by both "unfathomably hard" and "inexplicably happy" emotions. The entertainer and vocalist characterized 2023 as "among the most transformative, challenging, yet happiest and most extraordinary years of my life" in a detailed message posted on Instagram Story last Friday.
"Never have I experienced such immense pride, joy, and love while also grappling with a profound sense of being misunderstood by strangers who form conjectures about me, piecing together whispers and assumptions about my life," Grande expressed. "I've come to realize the vast discrepancy in importance between these two aspects."
Continuing, she mentioned her intention to "respond solely to matters worthy of my energy and safeguard myself from those that aren't," yet refrained from providing specific details, maintaining a sense of secrecy.
Even though Grande refrained from directly naming anyone, the media swiftly interpreted her post as a reaction to the online commotion that arose earlier in the summer. This was amidst reports suggesting she had started dating actor Ethan Slater, her co-star in the upcoming film adaptation of "Wicked."
The news about their relationship emerged just a few days following Grande's separation from her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez, after a two-year marriage. While there are discrepancies in reports about the exact timing of Grande's split, Slater and his former wife, Lilly Jay, had appeared to be in a committed relationship until then. It's been reported that Slater filed for divorce in late July, shortly after rumors linked him romantically with Grande.
Up to this point, neither Grande nor Slater has publicly discussed their relationship. However, in November, the couple attended a showing of Broadway's "Gutenberg! The Musical!" and happily took photos backstage with the show's stars, Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells.
Grande is gearing up for what appears to be an exceptional 2024, as "Wicked" is scheduled to premiere in theaters in November. Just recently, she also teased the arrival of a new album — her first since 2020's "Positions."