Ethan Slater's Unexpected Split from Lilly Jay Fuels Speculation in the Midst of a Surprising Connection with Ariana Grande

Ethan Slater, Lilly Jay. Amy Sussman/Shutterstock

Ethan Slater has officially initiated divorce proceedings from his wife, Lilly Jay. This development comes amidst reports of his romantic involvement with Ariana Grande. The divorce papers were filed by Slater, aged 31, in New York on Wednesday, July 26th. Unfortunately, the specific reason for their separation was not disclosed.

The couple, who were childhood sweethearts, got married in 2018 and had their first child in the previous year. Slater made headlines recently when it was confirmed that he was dating his Wicked co-star, Grande, 30, following her breakup with her estranged husband, Dalton Gomez.

According to an exclusive source, "Ariana and Ethan are in a relationship, but it's still quite new. Ariana and Dalton ended things in January, and Ethan is currently separated from his wife. They have just started seeing each other recently, but they have a great time together and are enjoying each other's company."

Grande and Slater first crossed paths on the set of the Wizard of Oz adaptation and instantly hit it off. Throughout the filming process, their affection for each other was quite evident to everyone present, with no efforts to conceal it. An insider disclosed that Ariana and Ethan would frequently hold hands in between takes, displaying their romance without reservation or discretion.

The revelation about Grande and Slater's budding relationship not only surprised the global audience but also came as a sudden shock to Jay, her estranged husband. Shortly before the news went public, a third informant disclosed that Jay had just learned about the new love interest in his former partner's life.

Éthan sat down with Lily a few days before news of him and Ariana broke out, telling her he wanted a divorce. It was a complete shock for Lily! (Claims made by sources close to Grande have been refuted.)

Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande have been photographed together, sparking speculation about their relationship. Slater, known for his role in the Broadway production of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, appears content with the new romance. However, his friends are expressing concern, fearing that Grande may hurt him. Lilli Cooper, Slater's former costar in the SpongeBob musical, also expressed surprise at the new relationship.

Cooper, 33, told Page Six on Monday, July 24 that he hasn't had any recent communication with him. He described their relationship as an intriguing and unexpected pairing.

The romance between Grande and Slater has not been acknowledged publicly by either of them. However, Slater drew attention by making his social media accounts private during the controversy. Jay and Gomez have also remained silent about their separated partners moving on.