Ethan Slater responds to speculation Ariana Grande's “Imperfect for You” is about him: “I Love That Song”

“She's such a great performer,” Slater said of his Grammy-winning girlfriend, whom he met on the set of “Wicked.”

Did Ariana Grande Write “Imperfect for You” About Ethan Slater?

After fans speculated about Grande's heart Eternal sunshine The track was written about her boyfriend and Evil Co-star Slater responded to the rumors in a new way GQ hype Cover story interview published on Thursday, October 30th.

The couple met on Evil set, and their relationship was confirmed by PEOPLE in July 2023. Eternal sunshine was released in March and fans suspect that the album is partly inspired by the romance between Grande and Slater and the public criticism they have received.

Related: Ethan Slater says it was “really hard” to see people “speculating” about his relationship with Ariana Grande.

When GQ Slater asked about the song's lyrics, although the actor didn't reveal exactly whether they were about him. “She's such a great artist, and I think everyone knows how good she is as a recording artist and all that — but I'm just blown away by the songwriting,” he told the outlet.

“I love this song,” added Slater, who stars Evil as Boq, a munchkin with an unrequited crush on Glinda, played by Grande.

In the lyrics of “Imperfect for You,” Grande talks about a complicated love affair. “My boy, come take my hand / Throw your guitar and your clothes in the back seat / My love, they don't understand / But I'll keep your pain right here in the box next to me,” she sings in the first verse.

Related: Kristin Chenoweth praises Evil Post-screening film with Broadway cast: “I'll Never Be the Same”

The Grammy winner and Slater's relationship began following Grande's split from her husband Dalton Gomez and Slater's split from his wife Lilly Jay, with whom he has a two-year-old son.

Elsewhere in the GQ In the interview, Slater – whose divorce from Jay was finalized in September – addressed critics who had made assumptions about his personal life. “Obviously it's been a really super big year,” he said, “and I think it's been really difficult to comment on things in your personal life and be looked at by the public.”

He continued: “There's really been a lot of big changes in personal lives, so it's really hard to see people who don't know anything about what's going on commenting and speculating on that and then getting something wrong about the people you know has.” Love. Just addressing that part of it feels really hard.”

Related: Ethan Slater supports girlfriend Ariana Grande Saturday Night Live Afterparty after her hosting gig

“But obviously it’s been a great year and a really beautiful thing,” Slater added, “and I’m just really excited.”

The Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical Star also expressed that he was “really, really proud” of Grande's work Evil. “She was totally committed to it,” he said.

“I'm really proud to have been a part of this part and I'm really excited to be a part of this next step when the world can see the amazing thing she's done,” Slater enthused.

Evil hits theaters November 22nd.