Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bring Ethan Slater to tears at 2025 Oscars

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Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s performance at the 97th Academy Awards not only left the audience in awe, but also Grande’s boyfriend, Ethan Slater, to tears.

The Oscars – which took place on Sunday, March 2, and was hosted by Conan O’Brien – kicked off with a breathtaking medley from iconic movies The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked. The performance followed a touching tribute to Los Angeles, which is still recovering from devastating wildfires earlier this year.

Grande, 31, began the musical spectacle with a heartfelt rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Erivo, 38, followed up with a powerful performance of “Home” from The Wiz. The two stars, who portray Glinda and Elphaba in the Wicked adaptation, then came together for an unforgettable version of “Defying Gravity,” one of the musical’s iconic numbers.

The performances were especially meaningful for the duo, as they are both nominated for Academy Awards — Erivo for Best Actress and Grande for Best Supporting Actress — for their roles in Wicked, which has earned 10 nominations, including Best Picture.

After the performance, Slater, 32, who plays Boq in the film, was visibly moved by the performance, tearing up in the audience as he watched his partner sing. Fans loved seeing the sweet interaction between the couple, and took to social media.

“the way Ethan slater looked at ariana grande after that amazing performance #Oscars,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Another said, “The pan to Ethan Slater 😭 I still can’t get over that.”

Others were disappointed with the pan to Slater, with one posting, “They just had to show Ethan slater,” while another seemingly agreed, saying,”Get ethan slater off my screen.”

Along with Wicked, Emilia Pérez, The Substance, and The Brutalist are some other top contenders of the night.