A sweet moment between Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande at the 2025 SAG Awards has been decoded by a professional lip reader.
The Wicked co-stars attended the Screen Actors Guild Awards which took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday (Febraury 23).
Grande was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble (for Wicked).
While the 31-year-old musician ultimately left without a win, she made headlines for her stunning red carpet gown and the intimate moment she shared with Slater.
Watch the sweet moment below:
Instagram account Deuxmoi noticed the 32-year-old actor leaning in to say something to Grande while navigating a crowded space, prompting Daily Mail to consult lip reader Nicola Hickling – who revealed exactly what was whispered.
The Broadway star reportedly told his partner: “Stay near, this crowd next to me, they are pushing me.” He then gently took her hand, guiding her safely through the packed venue.
Fans couldn’t get enough of the adorable exchange, with many praising Slater for looking out for Grande amid the chaos.
“He must make her feel very safe,” one user said, while another commented: ” I hope they are happy together.”
The couple’s relationship has faced public scrutiny, with rumors swirling about its timeline overlapping with their previous marriages.
In a rare move, the ‘Yes And?’ musician directly addressed the speculation in a September 2024 interview with Vanity Fair.
“It definitely doesn’t get any easier, seeing some of the negativity that was birthed by disreputable tabloids,” she said.
The Grammy-winning star acknowledged that her life changed dramatically while filming Wicked, adding: “A lot of people that were working on it did.” But she made sure to defend her partner against the harsh media coverage he received, saying: “There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him.”
“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about,” she continued. “There is no one on this earth with a better heart, and that is something that no bulls**t tabloid can rewrite in real life.”
The couple made their public debut in October 2023, when they were spotted enjoying a date at Disney World.
