You’ve seen him on MSNBC, probably leaning into the camera with a smirk while breaking down a legal filing using a Jay-Z lyric. Ari Melber is everywhere. But if you dig into the "People Also Ask" section of Google, a name from his past keeps popping up: Drew Grant.
It’s been years since they were a "thing," yet the curiosity doesn't seem to fade. Why? Maybe it’s because they were the ultimate New York media power couple before the high-profile divorce. Or maybe it’s because both have such distinct, loud personalities in a world of boring talking heads. Honestly, their story is a time capsule of a specific era of New York journalism that basically doesn't exist anymore.
The Meet-Cute in the Media Trenches
Ari Melber and Drew Grant didn't meet at some glitzy Hollywood gala. They met where all East Coast media nerds met in the early 2010s—in the fast-paced, snarky world of digital news. Back in 2010, Ari was still climbing the ladder at MSNBC, and Drew was a rising star in the blogosphere.
They started dating three years before they actually tied the knot. It was a classic "merger" of two bright minds. Ari had the Cornell Law degree and the serious political chops; Drew had the sharp-witted, pop-culture-obsessed energy that made her a legend at The New York Observer.
The 2013 Wedding
They finally got married in 2013. At the time, it felt like a match made in media heaven. You had the guy who would eventually host The Beat and the woman who founded tvDownload, one of the most influential television verticals of that decade. They were living in Brooklyn, doing the whole "young professionals in the city" thing, and for a while, it worked.
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Who Exactly is Drew Grant?
If you only know her as "Ari Melber's ex-wife," you’re missing out on a huge chunk of internet history. Drew Grant isn't just some socialite. She’s a "cultural gadfly," a term she’s used to describe herself, and she’s got the resume to back it up.
She spent years at The New York Observer during its peak era. If you’ve ever read a snarky, insightful breakdown of a Girls episode or a deep dive into the weirdness of Brooklyn culture from that time, there’s a good chance she wrote it. She’s also worked for:
- Salon
- Collider
- RealClearLife
- The Daily Dot (where she served as Editorial Director for Passionfruit)
Drew has always been open about the chaotic nature of her life and career. She’s written about her struggles with substances and her journey through the meat grinder of modern digital journalism. These days, she’s shifted her focus toward the intersection of AI and art, often posting under her "Videodrew" handle. She’s basically the cool, slightly chaotic alternative to Ari’s polished, rhythmic legal delivery.
Why Did Ari Melber and Drew Grant Divorce?
This is the part everyone searches for, but there’s no "scandal" to find. No leaked texts, no dramatic courtroom battles. They kept it quiet.
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The divorce was finalized in 2017. That same year, Ari’s career went into overdrive with the launch of The Beat. It’s a common story in high-pressure industries: the more successful one person becomes, the harder it is to maintain the domestic balance. Or maybe they just grew apart.
The timeline looks like this:
- 2010: They start dating.
- 2013: The wedding happens.
- 2017: The divorce is finalized.
- 2017: Ari launches The Beat with Ari Melber.
Since the split, Ari hasn't been one to flaunt his personal life on Instagram. He’s been linked to actress Alexandra Daddario in the past, but he mostly keeps his feed filled with clips of him interviewing rappers or explaining the latest Department of Justice moves.
Where They Are in 2026
Fast forward to today, and both have carved out very different lives. Ari Melber is arguably one of the most stable fixtures on cable news, despite the constant rumors of him leaving for independent media or a different network. In late 2025, there was a lot of chatter about him potentially moving into the streaming space as MSNBC transitioned into the new "Versant" corporate structure. For now, he’s still the guy who makes the law feel like a hip-hop track.
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Drew Grant, on the other hand, is deep into the future of content. Based in California now, she’s been leaning into the tech side of things. She isn't just writing about movies anymore; she's analyzing how AI is going to change how we see them.
A Quick Reality Check
- Are they still friends? They don't follow each other or interact publicly, so probably just "friendly exes" at best.
- Do they have kids? No.
- Is Ari Melber married now? No, he is currently single or keeping his partner very, very hidden.
The Legacy of the Relationship
Why does this specific pairing still fascinate people? It’s because they represented a moment when journalism was shifting from old-school print to digital dominance. They were the "it" couple of the New York media bubble.
When you search for Drew Grant and Ari Melber, you aren't just looking for gossip. You're looking at two people who survived the transition of the 2010s and came out on the other side as successful individuals. One chose the bright lights of the 6 p.m. news hour; the other chose the creative, experimental fringe of digital culture.
If you want to keep up with their current work, the best way is to watch The Beat for Ari’s legal takes or follow Drew’s "Videodrew" accounts for a more unfiltered look at where media is heading next. It's a rare case where the "exes" are just as interesting as the "star," which is probably why we’re still talking about them.
To get the most out of their respective insights, follow Ari Melber's "Mavericks" series for long-form interviews with cultural icons, and check out Drew Grant's recent newsletters on the impact of generative AI on the creator economy. These resources offer a better look at their professional evolution than any tabloid ever could.