The pairing has been the subject of ample discussion after news of the relationship was made public a few days after reports of Ariana's divorce from ex Dalton Gomez in July 2023. Then, a few days after that, it would be reported that Ethan was filing for divorce from high school sweetheart Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a toddler.
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Though reports have since emerged that both parties were separated from their former spouses before their relationship began, the narrative that infidelity was involved has persisted. Now, in a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ariana has addressed them head-on.
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“It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids,” Ariana said of her relationship. “Of course, I went through a lot of life changes during the filming of this movie. A lot of people that were working on it did. We were away for two years. So, of course, I understand why it was a field day for the tabloids to sort of create something that paid their bills.”
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According to Ariana, the narrative we are used to is not the truth. “The most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of it,” she continued. “That was definitely a tough ride.”
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“There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,” Ariana said, while noting that she “will never go into certain details" about what happened.
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She further said of Ethan, "No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart, and that is something that no bullshit tabloid can rewrite in real life.”
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“Honestly, it’s taken me a lot of hard work to be able to last this long and to heal certain parts of my relationship to fame and to what I do because of these tabloids that have been trying to destroy me since I was 19 years old,” she added. “But you know what? I’m 31 years old and I’m not a perfect person, but I am definitely deeply good, and I’m proud of who I’m becoming. I will never let disreputable evil tabloids ruin my life or my perception of what is real and good.”