Why Ariana Grande Walked The Golden Globes Alone

Together with her boyfriend Ethan Slater nowhere in sight and her longtime “Depraved” co-star Cynthia Erivo additionally absent from her aspect, questions shortly adopted.

Nonetheless, behind the whispers and hypothesis, buddies now say the reality is much extra calculated, intentional, and revealing than it first appeared.

When Grande walked the Golden Globes crimson carpet debuting a brunette transformation, it was not simply her look that caught consideration.

Slater was lacking, and as an alternative she was accompanied by her longtime pal Doug Middlebrook. For a lot of, it reignited rumors which have adopted the couple for months.

Insiders insist the absence was not an indication of hassle however technique. A supply defined to the Daily Mail, “Ariana put Ethan on the again burner whereas she was selling the film.” The choice, they are saying, was about optics and focus somewhat than distance.

Regardless of the chatter, these near the couple say their relationship is regular.

The insider added, “However they’re in a strong place now. They’re like an outdated married couple at residence. They’d somewhat hang around collectively and do easy issues like play board video games or binge watch reveals somewhat than exit to fancy locations.”

Grande’s solo second was not a breakup clue, however a rigorously chosen transfer throughout a extremely scrutinized awards season.

The discharge of “Depraved: For Good” positioned Grande entrance and middle alongside Cynthia Erivo for an intense, globe-spanning promotional tour.

The duo traveled throughout continents, creating a picture of unity and star energy that studios rely on to drive buzz.

Slater, who performs Boq within the movie, deliberately took a quieter position. Whereas he appeared at choose premieres and a single solid Q&A, he largely stayed out of the highlight.

Insiders say this was not unintentional. “Ethan knew the Ariana and Cynthia factor was all about advertising the film. Ariana wanted to be entrance and middle with Cynthia. The 2 of them had been in all places and Ethan was nowhere to be seen,” one supply revealed.

The insider added that Slater understood the hierarchy at play.

They stated, “Though he is within the film, he is not a promoting software like Ariana and Cynthia. He is a professional and understands the enterprise. That is why he was OK with it.”

The Golden Globes look adopted the identical logic, holding the narrative clear and centered.

Public curiosity peaked when Slater appeared on the “In the present day” present and was requested about working alongside Grande. Moderately than handle their relationship instantly, he shifted focus to the ensemble.

He described the solid as “unbelievable,” praised Grande as “good,” and known as Erivo “exceptional,” noting that witnessing their performances up shut was a “fairly particular” expertise.

His cautious wording mirrored the couple’s determination to keep away from posing collectively throughout promotional occasions. As an alternative of feeding headlines, they opted for discretion.

Behind the scenes, nonetheless, Slater continued to help Grande, together with being noticed backstage at “Saturday Night time Dwell” when she hosted the vacation episode.

Extra lately, delicate social media posts hinted that their relationship stays intact.

The pair shared moments from a Boxing Day gathering, together with clips of Grande smiling together with her canine Toulouse, later reposted with pink coronary heart stickers.

Whereas Grande’s relationship with Slater seems regular, her once-constant pairing with Erivo has noticeably cooled.

Through the “Depraved” press run, the 2 appeared inseparable, typically joking about being “secretly married” and sharing emotional moments on crimson carpets.

Now, sources say the dynamic has shifted. “Ariana and Cynthia positively solid a bond whereas filming each Depraved and the sequel, however the fact is that they by no means frolicked when the cameras weren’t round,” the insider defined. “They had been by no means greatest buddies out of the highlight. Their relationship was purely skilled. Proper now they’re shifting in completely totally different instructions profession smart.”

One other supply pushed again on the concept of a fallout, providing a softer clarification.

“They are not speaking as a lot as a result of they don’t seem to be selling the movie collectively daily however that is all,” the second insider stated. “After they had been completed selling, they wanted house. It was rather a lot. Intense. Nothing unhealthy however they had been collectively for weeks, so now it is like, ‘Let’s cling with different buddies.’ It is not one thing that has been spoken, it has simply been natural. It is not dramatic. It is nonetheless all love.”