Pop star Ariana Grande and real estate agent Dalton Gomez have officially ended their marriage after two years. The former couple reached a settlement that was filed on Friday, October 6, 2023, in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
A Quick and Amicable Split
According to TMZ, Grande and Gomez signed a prenuptial agreement before tying the knot in May 2021. The agreement stipulated that Grande would pay Gomez a lump sum of $1,250,000 as spousal support, instead of monthly payments. Gomez will also receive half of the net proceeds from the sale of their Los Angeles home, which they bought for $13.7 million in June 2020. Grande will cover up to $25,000 of Gomez’s attorney fees as well.
The settlement also stated that Gomez would get continued 24-hour security protection, as Grande wanted her ex-husband to live a safe and private lifestyle after their split. The date of separation was listed as February 20, 2023, but the divorce was not filed until September. A source told People that the pair wanted to take care of each other and make the process as easy as possible.
“They have a strong mutual respect for each other,” the source said. “They’ve been really caring and respectful of one another through every step of this process.”
A Whirlwind Romance
Grande and Gomez began dating in February 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. They made their relationship public in May 2020, when they appeared in the music video for Grande and Justin Bieber’s duet “Stuck with U”. In December 2020, they announced their engagement on Instagram, with Grande showing off her diamond and pearl ring.
“Forever n then some,” Grande captioned the post.
The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at their home in Montecito, California, in May 2021. The wedding was attended by less than 20 people, including their families and close friends.
“The room was so happy and full of love,” Grande’s rep told People at the time. “The couple and both families couldn’t be happier.”
Moving On with New Partners
News of their divorce came just two months after they celebrated their second wedding anniversary. In July 2021, while filming Wicked in London, Grande was spotted at the Wimbledon tennis tournament without her wedding ring. She was also seen getting cozy with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, who plays Fiyero in the musical.
Slater, 31, also filed for divorce from his estranged wife Lilly Jay in July 2021. Jay, who shares a child with Slater, accused Grande of being “not a girl’s girl” and said her family was “just collateral damage”.
Sources confirmed to People that Grande and Slater’s romantic relationship began after they separated from their former partners. They have been spotted together several times since then, holding hands and kissing.
Grande has not publicly commented on her divorce or her new relationship. She is currently busy with her role as Glinda in Wicked, which is set to premiere in December 2023.