Bowen Yang Raves About Wicked Costar Ariana Grande: 'I Love Her' (Exclusive)

“She's an incredibly empathetic, beautiful, feeling person,” Yang said of his friend Thursday at the 2023 American Museum of Natural History Gala in N.Y.C.

By

Kimberlee Speakman

and

Mary Park

Published on December 1, 2023 09:08AM EST

Bowen Yang attends the American Museum of Natural History's 2023 Museum Gala; Ariana Grande filming before strike — Bowen Yang in New York City on Nov. 30, 2023; Ariana Grande on the set of *Wicked*. Photo:
Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Bav Media / SplashNews

Bowen Yang only has compliments for his Wicked costar Ariana Grande.

The Saturday Night Live star, 33, told PEOPLE on Thursday at the 2023 American Museum of Natural History Gala in New York City that after getting to know the “Positions” singer on the set of their upcoming film, he adores “everything” about her.

“I mean, her whole demeanor. Her way of seeing the world,” Yang said, describing what he loves about Grande, 30. “She's an incredibly empathetic, beautiful, feeling person, and that comes through in her music very clearly.”

The comedian said that those traits, along with several others, also translate to his pal being an ideal girlfriend and partner.

“I just think the fact that she's hilarious, full-out funny. I think that she's the perfect person for anybody to be around,” he explained. “No matter what capacity. So I love her.”

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Bowen Yang at the American Museum of Natural History's 2023 Museum Gala — Bowen Yang in New York City on Nov. 30, 2023.
Bryan Bedder/Variety via Getty Images

Yang has also bonded with the Grammy winner over their love for theater. The pair recently attended Broadway's Spamalot revival to support Grande’s boyfriend Ethan Slater and SNL alum Taran Killam.

“We did not compare theater notes,” Yang joked of his time with Grande at the event. “I think we both just went and watched and appreciated that whole experience.”

“It was just so nice to see a show that I missed on Broadway when it first came out. I was in high school, very far away from New York. To be able to see it now as an adult, who appreciates theater ... to have people I know in the cast, between Taran and Ethan and all, I was very happy.”

Director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked — which is a film adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway musical — brings together several big stars including Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Yang and Slater, 31, to star in the magical world adjacent to The Wizard of Oz.

Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande — Ethan Slater; Ariana Grande.
Eugene Gologursky/Getty; Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Following the initial production of the film, Grande and Slater, who made his Broadway debut in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical and plays Boq in the movie, developed a romance offscreen.

The pair's relationship, which was first confirmed by PEOPLE in July, began after her separation from husband Dalton Gomez and Slater’s separation from wife Lilly Jay. Grande and Gomez, 28, settled their divorce in October just weeks after filing, following two years of marriage.

Since Grande and Slater’s romance became public, the couple has tried to keep their relationship out of the spotlight and low-key, with a source telling PEOPLE in September, “They are just trying to navigate their new relationship in private."

The first Wicked film is slated to premiere in theaters in November 2024, with the second scheduled for release for one year later.