Ariana Grande feels ‘fiercely protected’ amid Ethan Slater romance

Ariana Grande recently opened up about her "transformative, most challenging and yet happiest and most special years" of life following her rare outing with new love interest Ethan Slater.

Bringing her thoughts about the year to light, the Bang Bang hitmaker took to her social media handle to post a story on Instagram on Friday, December 29.

Reflecting on 2023 in which she experienced a divorce with Dalton Gomez and found love again in the arms of her Wicked co-star, the 30-year-old pop icon wrote, "There were so many beautiful and yet polarized feelings. I’ve never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me.

"I have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don’t know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life," the Everyday crooner gushed.

Expressing her gratitude toward the people she loved, the 7 Rings songstress went on to say, "I have learned how much more important one of those things is than the other. I have never felt more tightly held of fiercely protected by those who love me understand me (family, friends, and fans alike)."

She also added that she felt "safe" even in the midst of a plethora of things she’s "usually afraid of" that includes her personal trauma and fear.

With a slew of mixed emotions rushing through her, the Santa Tell Me singer concluded, what appeared to be a catharsis, "I am reacting to things that deserve my energy only and removing and protecting myself from things that do not."

"I am so extremely grateful for all of the feelings I was lucky enough to feel so deeply this year…I feel softer and stronger, all at once…. I cannot wait for next year," Grande added.