Actor Ethan Slater has spoken out about the backlash surrounding his relationship with pop star Ariana Grande, which began after they worked together on the film adaptation of *Wicked*. The romance attracted public scrutiny, as Slater’s marriage to Lilly Jay ended shortly before he went public with Grande.  In a recent interview with *GQ*, Slater admitted that dealing with public judgment on private matters has been challenging. "It’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating," he shared, adding that incorrect assumptions have affected the people closest to him. Grande, who also recently separated from her husband Dalton Gomez, expressed frustration with the media’s portrayal of her new relationship, telling *Vanity Fair*, "The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it." Both have faced intense public speculation as their relationship continues to develop.