The other SpongeBob; who is Ethan Slater - Ariana Grande’s rumoured latest romance after Dalton Gomez?

Fans of Nickelodeon’s iconic “SpongeBob SquarePants” can breathe a sigh of relief, after the voice actor Tom Kenny’s partner cleared up some online rumours regarding Ariana Grande and the “voice” of SpongeBob. As it stands, it’s not the voice at all, but rather another person portraying the Bikini Bottom resident - in the stage show based on the characters.

The confusion stemmed from a headline posted on The Cut's Instagram page, questioning whether Ariana Grande was dating SpongeBob. However, the actual person in question was Ethan Slater, who portrayed SpongeBob in the Broadway musical adaptation, not Tom Kenny. Thankfully, Kenny’s wife, Jill Talley, left an explanation to the confusion in the comments section of The Cut’s post.

"Hi everyone, I'm married to Tom Kenny (who voices SpongeBob on the TV show)," Talley wrote. "He is not dating Ariana Grande. I don't know if Ethan Slater (who played SpongeBob in the musical) is or isn't dating Ariana Grande. However, they're both adorable and I totally ship it. Just wanted to set the record straight. PS: As for me and Tom Kenny," the voice actress added, "we are celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary today."

The confusion does indeed stem from the fact that Tom Kenny, previously a cast member in HBO’s cult sketch show comedy “Mr. Show,” is synonymous with voicing the iconic character since his debut in 1999 on Nickelodeon, while Slater has portrayed SpongeBob in “The SpongeBob Musical,” performing the role in the 2016 Chicago run, the 2017 Broadway run and the 2019 television special.

Grande and Slater “dating” comes not a week after reports that the “Wicked” actress and her husband, Dalton Gomez, were heading towards a divorce, prompting a slew of online discussion whether Grande is jumping too soon into relationships when previous ones don’t pan out. Given that Slater is also set to appear in the big screen adaptation of “Wicked,” many have come to a conclusion the pair warmed to each other while on set.

Who is Ethan Slater?

Ethan Slater, born on June 2, 1992, in Washington, D.C., gained widespread recognition for his outstanding performance, earning a Tony Award nomination and winning a Drama Desk Award in 2018 for his role. Growing up as the third child of Jay Slater, an employee at the Food and Drug Administration, and lawyer Ellen Goldmuntz, Ethan's childhood was spent in a loving and supportive family environment. After attending Georgetown Day School, the Slater family moved to Silver Spring, Maryland; sadly, Slater’s mother died when he was aged 7.

His passion for drama and performing arts flourished during his formative years, leading him to study drama at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. While in college, Ethan honed his skills as an actor by apprenticing at a Shakespeare workshop, an experience that connected him with director Tina Landau, who would later play a pivotal role in his career. In 2014, Slater graduated from Vassar with a Bachelor of Arts degree, equipped to take on the world of entertainment

His journey to fame took off when he starred in the production of "The SpongeBob Musical" as the beloved SpongeBob himself. The musical adaptation garnered widespread acclaim, catapulting Ethan into the spotlight and earning him a Tony Award nomination, a prestigious recognition in the theatre world. His portrayal of the lovable sea sponge showcased his incredible talent and versatility as an actor, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike

Beyond the success of "The SpongeBob Musical," Ethan Slater has showcased his acting prowess in various other projects. Notable among them are his appearances on television shows such as "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Murphy Brown," "Fosse/Verdon," and "Instinct." He even reprised his role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television adaptation of "The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!"

Slater's career seems poised for continued success; his filmography includes notable works like "Lightning Bugs in a Jar," "EVOL: Theory of Love," and "The Man Behind the Camera," with exciting upcoming projects like "Wicked: Part One" and "Lost on A Mountain in Maine."

Offstage, Ethan Slater has kept his personal life relatively private. In 2012, he began dating his former high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, with whom he tied the knot in 2018. The couple welcomed a son in 2022, however no comment has been made from Lilly Jay regarding rumours surrounding Slater and Grande - so far.