Ariana Grande Shuts Down Critics of Her and Ethan Slater's Relationship with New Song 'Yes, And?"

Ariana Grande announced her return to the music industry with a fresh track titled “yes, and?”, seemingly as a response to critics of her and Ethan Slater's relationship.

With lyrics that include “In case you have not noticed / well, everyone’s exhausted / and healing from somebody / boy come on put your lipstick on / come on and walk this path through the flame (don't care what's on their mind)", Ariana, 30, delivers the song, which was launched on Thursday, January 11.

The song continues with the refrain, “Yes, and? / enunciate your words with conviction / and be your very own best ally”.

Maintaining the theme of “mind your own business", Ariana includes lyrics indicating she “won't conceal myself underneath your own assumptions or alter my genuine life," and questioning, “Do you truly care whose company I keep?”

The latest track comes after a challenging year for Ariana and she looked eager to leave 2023 behind as she expressed her sentiments in her Instagram Story on December 29, 2023.

The post, now expired, read, “One of the most transformative, most testing, yet also the happiest and most memorable years of my life,” Ariana wrote. “There were such diverse yet beautiful feelings. I've never felt more in surrender and acceptance of the life lessons coming my way. I've never felt more satisfied by or engaged in my work, and have had the chance to savor every moment.”

Further expressing her feelings, the “Thank U, Next” singer said, “Never have I felt more pride, joy, or love while at the same time feeling greatly misconstrued by those who don't know me, who gather loose talk and create whatever version of me and my life they please.”

Ariana shared that she has “never felt more securely embraced or fiercely safeguarded by those who love and comprehend [her]” and stated that she started “responding to things that warrant [her] attention alone and shielding [herself] from things that don't.”

The ex-Nickelodeon celebrity found herself at the center of public attention when she rapidly initiated a relationship with Broadway actor Ethan, 31, shortly post her divorce with Dalton Gomez. The timeline of Ariana and Ethan's relationship set off whispers among fans, and several deduced that the pair might have been unfaithful to their respective partners.

A reliable source exclusively disclosed to Life & Style in August 2023, that Ariana’s friends were skeptical of her actions and didn’t consider the Grammy winner to be a “girl’s girl”.

The source shared, “Ariana didn't just cross the girl code, she pulverized it,” going on to add, “Recovering from this is going to be hard. There’s now a very real feeling of ‘keep your partner away’ when it comes to being in her company now.”