Not surprisingly, spending months at a time on set with costars creates lifelong friendships and frequently even love connections. It’s also not unheard of for certain celebrities to go too far and cheat on their partners with co-stars.
In 2023, one of the most notorious incidents involving Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater occurred on the Wicked set. The “Into You” singer’s breakup from her estranged husband, Dalton Gomez, at the start of 2023 was made public in July of that year. Reports that Sarah and Ethan were dating appeared soon after their breakup made news. He filed for divorce from Lilly Jay, his estranged wife, with whom he has a kid, the same week. They were best friends in high school.
When Lilly attacked Ariana in an interview the same month, saying that the former Nickelodeon star is “not a girl’s girl,” the dispute intensified. Although Ethan and Ariana refrained from making public comments on their romantic status, there were circulating reports suggesting that the two had become intimate on set while he was still married to Lilly.
ARIANA GRANDE AND ETHAN SLATER
Ariana and Ethan reportedly started dating in July 2023. However, reports surfaced alleging that they had actually hooked up earlier that year after meeting on the set of the film adaptation of Wicked.
T.J. HOLMES AND AMY ROBACH
The former GMA3 costars made headlines in November 2022 when they were spotted packing on the PDA in photos obtained by Daily Mail.
Amy was married to Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue, while T.J. was married to wife Marilee Fiebig at the time the alleged affair went public. Despite a ratings boost to their hour of Good Morning America, Amy and T.J. were subsequently let go from their hosting positions.
T.J. ultimately filed for divorce from his wife on December 28, 2022. Amy’s divorce from Andrew was finalized in March 2023.
EDDIE CIBRIAN AND LEANN RIMES
Eddie Cibrian was in a committed marriage with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Brandi Glanville when he met singer LeAnn Rimes on the set of the 2009 film Northern Lights. For her part, the “How Do I Live” songstress was married to Dean Sheremet at the time.
Eddie and LeAnn were spotted packing on the PDA during a night out in Laguna Beach, California, in photos obtained by Us Weekly in March 2009. Just five months later, Eddie filed for divorce from his wife, while LeAnn and Dean reached a divorce settlement that December.
The two tied the knot in April 2011 and are still going strong today.
LILY JAMES AND DOMINIC WEST
Dominic West was married to Catherine Fitzgerald for a decade before he was spotted with Pursuit of Love costar Lily James in October 2020. Despite the public affair, Dominic and Catherine – who share four children together – decided to give their marriage another chance.
“Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thank you. Catherine and Dominic,” a sheet of paper read as the pair posed for photos outside their London home.
RYAN PHILLIPPE AND ABBIE CORNISH
In 2006, during his marriage to Legally Blonde star Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe met Abbie Cornish on the set of the film Stop-Loss.
That same year, Ryan and Reese announced their split amid rumors of his relationship with Abbie.
“It was unfair for [Abbie] to be called the names that she was, because it wasn’t about that,” he told W Magazine in February 2008. “I don’t think an outside person can ever cause a divorce. I had difficulties in my relationship, and in my marriage, long before I ever met her.”
Despite Ryan claiming that his divorce from the Sweet Home Alabama star was “far more complicated and far less interesting than it’s made out to be,” he and Abbie dated for four years before splitting in February 2010.
JOHNNY DEPP AND AMBER HEARD
The Pirates of the Caribbean star was in a 13-year relationship with Vanessa Paradis when he met Amber Heard on the set of 2011’s The Rum Diaries. The actor’s publicist confirmed his split from Vanessa – with whom he shares daughter Lily Rose and son Jack – in June 2012.
He and Amber entered into a highly publicized relationship before tying the knot in a private island ceremony in February 2015. Their marriage lasted only 15 months before the Texas native filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
KRISTEN STEWART AND RUPERT SANDERS
Photos of Twilight star Kristen Stewart canoodling with her Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders, were released in July 2012 while she was still in a relationship with Robert Pattinson.
“This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob,” she later said in a public statement. “I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.”
For his part, Rupert – who was married to actress Liberty Ross at the time – said, “I am utterly distraught about the pain I have caused my family.”