Who Is Lilly Jay? 5 Things to Know About Ethan Slater’s Ex-Wife

Ethan Slater’s relationship with Lilly Jay became a topic of public attention in 2023 after reports linked the Tony-nominated actor to his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande. The romance between Slater and Grande reportedly surfaced on July 20, 2023, and just days later, on July 26, Slater filed for divorce from Jay in New York, according to reports. After the release of Wicked, Jay addressed the situation publicly in an essay for The Cut, reflecting on the end of her marriage without naming Grande directly.

In her essay, Jay described the “public downfall” of her marriage and said she had been forced to reconsider her future after the loss of the life she had planned with her high school sweetheart. She wrote that she never expected to get divorced, especially not soon after becoming a mother and while her husband was beginning a new relationship with a celebrity. Jay said she missed the privacy and “life of invisibility” she had built for herself as a psychologist focused on women’s mental health.

Jay and Slater’s relationship began long before their marriage. The two were high school classmates and had been together since 2012, later becoming engaged and eventually marrying in 2018 after six years as a couple. At the time of their wedding, Slater was appearing on Broadway in The Spongebob Musical and was also taking on television roles in projects such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Jay often accompanied him to major events, including the 2018 Tony Awards, where he was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical.

The former couple also share a son. They welcomed their child after four years of marriage, and Slater later marked Mother’s Day in 2023 with a tribute to Jay, praising her as a loving and caring mother. He had previously shared another public message in December 2020, congratulating her on completing work toward a psychology degree and defending her dissertation after years of study.

Jay later commented more directly on the reports surrounding Slater and Grande. In remarks shared with the media in July 2023, she expressed frustration over the situation and suggested that her family had been caught in the middle of the public attention. She also said she was focused on being a good mother to her son.

As interest in the relationship continued, Jay’s comments added a personal perspective to a breakup that had already become a high-profile entertainment story. Her essay and later remarks highlighted the emotional toll of a private separation becoming public, while also emphasizing her commitment to motherhood and her professional identity outside the headlines.