People are shocked that Ariana Grande is dating the live action SpongeBob SquarePants

The shock of all shocks

Grande recently split from her husband Dalton Gomez, 27, earlier this week with a source telling PEOPLE magazine that they were on track to be divorced after separating earlier in the year.

PEOPLE added that sources have confirmed to them that the former Nickeloden star has moved on quickly and is now dating her Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater.

"Ariana and Dalton separated in January," said one source. "She and Ethan recently began dating, and he is separated from his wife."

Slater married his childhood sweetheart, Lilly Jay, in November 2018 and the pair welcomed their first child into the world in November, last year.

It's unclear when he and his wife of five years separated.

Fans of Grande have been keen to know more about Slater and some have been shocked to learn that he played the role of the popular cartoon character, SpongeBob SquarePants, on Broadway. He played the role between 2016 and 2018.

One fan wrote: "WHAT DO YOU *MEAN* ARIANA GRANDE IS DATING THE GUY WHO PLAYED SPONGEBOB IN THE MUSICAL WHAT?"

A second said: "Ain't no way Ariana Grande is dating SpongeBob Squarepants."

"Ariana Grande dating Spongebob was not on my 2023 bingo card damn," tweeted a third.

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