Sources confirm that pop superstar Ariana Grande and actor Ethan Slater have ended their relationship. The split, which has been kept under wraps for weeks, comes amid a media storm that has drawn sharp criticism from industry insiders across the UK.
The couple, who began dating in 2023 after Grande’s divorce from Dalton Gomez, have reportedly been living apart for the past two months. Insiders close to the pair say the pressures of their respective careers and the relentless scrutiny from tabloids took a toll. “They tried to make it work, but the constant invasion of privacy made it impossible,” a source told this reporter.
The news has prompted an outcry from UK showbiz figures, who argue that the British press crossed a line. In an open letter, a collective of actors, musicians, and publicists accused outlets of “weaponising celebrity gossip” and called for a boycott of publications that publish paparazzi shots of private moments.
The Independent has obtained documents showing that Grande’s security team filed at least two formal complaints with the Metropolitan Police over photographers stalking her London residence in the past year. One incident involved a photographer using a drone to film through a window. No charges were filed.
This is not an isolated case. The letter, signed by over 100 industry figures, cites a pattern of “toxic behaviour” by the press. “They treat real people like fictional characters,” said one signatory, a prominent West End producer who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of backlash. “We are tired of seeing our colleagues hounded for clicks.”
The question now is whether this will lead to any real change. Parliament has been reluctant to tighten privacy laws, despite repeated scandals. The Information Commissioner’s Office has launched an inquiry into “intrusive data practices” by certain media groups, but critics say it lacks teeth.
Grande and Slater have said nothing publicly. Their silence is perhaps the loudest statement yet. Meanwhile, the media circus moves on, but the damage is done. The UK’s showbiz community is left wondering: at what cost does our appetite for salacious stories come?
