New York, USA – In a surprising turn of events, Ariana Grande’s rumored new boyfriend, actor Ethan Slater, has officially filed for divorce from his wife Lilly Jay. The news comes as a shock to many, especially since Grande recently ended her two-year marriage to real estate agent Dalton Gomez.
According to TMZ, Slater, who is set to co-star alongside Grande in the upcoming film adaptation of Broadway’s Wicked, filed the divorce papers in New York on Wednesday. He and Lilly had been married since 2018 and share an infant son, born last August.
Reports suggest that Slater and Grande developed a romance during the past year while filming Wicked in London. However, the news of their relationship has left Slater’s wife, Lilly Jay, feeling completely blindsided and devastated. A source close to Jay shared with TMZ that she feels abandoned and hurt, believing that Slater has turned his back on their family.
Adding to her distress, Jay is also upset about the impact on their young son, who will now have both parents living apart. The fact that Grande had previously spent time with Jay and her husband while they were still married has left her feeling betrayed.
Despite the news, sources claim that both Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are trying to be respectful of their exes as they pursue this new relationship. It is not clear when exactly the couple started dating, but insiders suggest that they have been seeing each other for several months.
A poignant Instagram post by Slater just two months before news of his apparent romance with Grande emerged shows him expressing love and admiration for his wife on Mother’s Day. The post featured a sweet message to Jay, though it remains unclear if they were still together at that time.
Sources revealed to Us Weekly that Slater had informed his wife about his relationship with Grande and asked for a divorce a few days before the news broke publicly. However, another insider refuted this claim, asserting that Grande and Slater were separated when they began dating.
The relationship between Slater and Grande allegedly began during the filming of the Wicked movie, where they were reportedly not shy about displaying affection in front of the cast and crew.
As the situation unfolds, fans and the public are closely following the developments in this unexpected Hollywood romance. Meanwhile, Ariana Grande’s estranged husband, Dalton Gomez, is said to have wanted to make their marriage work, but it seems Grande had moved on, marking the end of their union after two years.