By Riley Dauber
Lifestyle Editor
While a majority of celebrities are currently on strike, some are dealing with major relationship changes. From divorces and marriages, to new partners and affairs, celebrities have provided a plethora of drama for fans to engage with.
The first example of this phenomenon started this summer on July 20, when, according to Glamour, pop star Ariana Grande started an affair with her “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater.
According to Glamour, the pair first met when production began for the film adaptation of the popular musical in December 2022. However, both Grande and Slater were married at the time of meeting, and have since separated from their partners.
Grande married real estate agent Dalton Gomez on May 15, 2021, but the couple reportedly split in January of 2023, according to Glamour.
Slater, known for his Tony-nominated performance as the titular sponge in “Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical,” was married to his high school sweetheart Lilly Jay; the two have a baby together.
Once this couple was announced, many fans took to Twitter and Instagram to share their thoughts.
“The Ariana Grande/Ethan Slater situation is simply what happens in every high school when only one straight guy does the musical,” Twitter user @RohitaKadambi said.
Once the Grande and Slater drama started to die down, fans and media outlets focused on the next couple: actor Timothee Chalamet and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner.
While rumors have spiraled since April, the pair confirmed their relationship with several public outings at the beginning of September, including a Beyonce concert, a New York fashion week show, and the US Open, according to Independent.
Another celebrity relationship announcements overlapped with Chalamet and Jenner’s — Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s divorce.
On Sept. 6, pop star Jonas and actress Turner announced their separation after four years of marriage. According to the Associated Press, the two released similar sentiments on their Instagram accounts following the announcement.
“After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage. There are many speculative narratives as to why, but truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children,” the statements said.
Despite the seemingly mutual feelings, the press has arguably manipulated the story in an attempt to paint Jonas in a better light.
According to The Guardian, Turner was photographed partying and getting drinks with friends while Jonas was photographed taking his kids to brunch. Some news outlets, including The Daily Mail, are trying to create a false narrative where Turner is a party girl and Jonas the dutiful father — even though Turner is currently working on a film out of the country.
Many social media users have responded to the divorce announcement, pointing out the assumptions placed on both Turner and Jonas and the ongoing coverage.
“This joe jonas and sophie turner divorce is starting to feel dragged out like the ariana grande and ethan slater business,” Twitter user @gojosdaya said.
While Jonas and Turner were the names on everyone’s lips, they may soon be overlooked now that actor Hugh Jackman announced his divorce from wife Deborra-Lee Furness on Sept. 15, according to Vulture.
Most of these situations are recent, but after a few days or weeks, they are bound to diminish in popularity in favor of the next relationship announcement.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: Many media outlets are painting Turner, known for role as Sansa Stark in “Game of Thrones,” as a party girl following her divorce from Jonas.