Ariana Grande’s Song ‘We Can’t Be Friends’ Tops The Billboard Charts As Fans Speculate It’s About Cheating In Her Marriage

Fans are continuing to analyze one of Ariana Grande‘s latest hits from her chart-topping seventh album, Eternal Sunshine. The song (and second single off the record), “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” has sparked speculation that it may be about the Grammy winner’s ex, Dalton Gomez, whom she recently divorced.

The “Yes, And?” hitmaker, 30, and real estate broker, 28, memorably tied the knot in May 2021. They reportedly separated last summer, and their divorce was not finalized until October 2023, with the legal proceedings finally concluding on March 19, 2024. We’ll break it all down below:

Is Ariana Grande's New Single About Her Ex Dalton Gomez 'Cheating On Her?' Here's Why Fans Think So

Grande has continued to enjoy musical success throughout early 2024, as "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 last week, marking her ninth No. 1 hit.

Many fans on social media persist in conveying their belief that Grande and Gomez were involved in a scandal, with accusations of infidelity on his part during their marital union.

The new single and video dropped March 8th along with Eternal Sunshine, and eagle-eyed fans who have been analyzing the lyrics think they hint to Gomez cheating on Grande. Romantic themes pervade a significant portion of the album, and the song/ visual in question is no exception.

The R.E.M. Beauty mogul's new music video pays homage to the critically acclaimed film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which served as the inspiration behind her latest song.

In the video, Grande portrays a character named Peaches who willingly undergoes a procedure to eliminate unpleasant memories, a parallel to Joel (played by Jim Carrey) and Clementine (portrayed by Kate Winslet)'s experience in the 2004 movie.

The video was directed by Christian Breslauer, who previously worked with Grande on "Yes, And?" In one scene, Peaches erases the memories of her former lover, portrayed by Evan Peters, before it all ends with both characters undergoing the same procedure. As they cross paths with new partners, they remain unaware of their previous connection.

The lyrics of the song delve into the aftermath of a relationship's termination, highlighting the fact that the singer and her former partner cannot maintain a friendship or remain together due to her inability to be her true self around him. (For ex: "I didn’t think you’d understand me / How could you ever even try? / I don’t wanna tiptoe, but I don’t wanna hide.")

Many fans on X (formerly Twitter) are pointing out that the lyrics and vid could possibly reference her breakup with Gomez. One fan wrote that in the video, Grande puts away a "box with objects that represent her memories. She finds herself in a waiting room to get over someone (her ex-husband Dalton Gomez)," they theorized.

Another added, alleging: "Ariana JUST deleted the last two remaining photos with her ex dalton gomez from her instagram feed, minutes after the release of the video."

In an interview with Apple Music 1 host Zane Lowe earlier this month, Grande reflected on the above video and how it relates to her entire album. "It fits the concept, I think in a different way for me than it does for most of my friends and most of my family and they interpret it differently, which I love about that song," she said.

Grande added: "Because I think it can be applied to any kind of relationship, really, especially when you see the video. I think you’ll understand the importance of it. The video that we made for ‘We Can’t Be Friends’ really, to me, is the album in a video."

Other lyrics that many fans are thinking link back to Gomez are the following from the title track "Eternal Sunshine:" "I’ve never seen someone lie like you do / So much, even you start to think it’s true" and "Now she’s in my bed, layin’ on your chest." There's also another jarring line that seems to reference cheating in fans' eyes: "Hope you feel alright when you're in her."

According to an insider, the geographical distance between Grande and Gomez played a big part in their separation, despite Grande's efforts in their romantic journey.

"She was happy in Los Angeles for a couple of years," they said. "She wanted to make a life there with Dalton. He is super focused on his career [as a real estate agent] and needs to live in Los Angeles. It’s definitely been an issue for them. Dalton’s career is demanding and he can’t leave Los Angeles often. So when [Grande] started filmingWicked in England, they were in for a long-distance marriage."      

All of this comes after Grande allegedly began dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater while still being married to Gomez last summer. In the months since, Grande was branded a "home wrecker" by numerous online critics.

Slater, 31, on the other hand, was also married to his high school sweetheart Lilly Jay and was a father to a one-year-old child when he reportedly began seeing Grande (and whom he is apparently still dating).

Regarding Eternal Sunshine, many fans think Slater is the main subject of songs like "The Boy Is Mine" and "Yes, And?"

Overall, a lot to unpack here!