Ariana Grande’s boyfriend, Ethan Slater, is criticized for his treatment of ex-wife Lilly Jay after she wrote an essay about their split, with fans warning the Wicked star
Ariana Grande’s boyfriend and Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater, has faced backlash from fans after his ex-wife, Lilly Jay, spoke out about the pain of seeing him move on.
Ethan, 32, and Ariana, 31, met on the set of the Wicked film adaptation in 2022 while both were still married. Ariana stars as Glinda the Good Witch, and Ethan plays Boq, the munchkin.
Lilly, 32, who was married to Ethan for six years, expressed the anguish of watching her ex-husband promote Wicked globally, calling it a painful reminder of the «public downfall of my marriage.»
Lilly Jay, Ethan Slater’s ex-wife, shared how she moved to Britain with their newborn to support him while he filmed Wicked. Despite being high school sweethearts, Ethan left her for Ariana Grande.
In an essay for The Cut, Lilly, a clinical psychologist, opened up about navigating life as a single mother and the end of her marriage. As the article gained traction, fans took to social media to condemn Ethan, warning Ariana about him.
One user wrote, «Ethan Slater IS a horrible person,» while another added, «A man who leaves his postpartum wife is not a forever kind of person.» Many expressed doubt about the longevity of Ethan and Ariana’s relationship.
Fans have expressed outrage over Ethan Slater’s treatment of his ex-wife, with many calling him a «horrible person» for his actions.
One wrote, «Ethan ruined his own marriage,» while another said, «His actions are deeply disappointing and disrespectful to his wife.»
In her candid article, Lilly shared how she moved to another country with their 2-month-old baby to support Ethan’s career, unaware of the growing distance between them.
She reflected on the painful reality of seeing the movie promotion linked to the «saddest days of my life.»
Lilly also described the heartbreak of accepting her marriage’s public downfall, adding that no one expects divorce, especially after having a child and facing her ex-husband’s new relationship with a celebrity.
While Ethan and Ariana have been in the spotlight promoting Wicked, Lilly is raising their toddler and finding solace in motherhood, despite the emotional toll it has taken.
Lilly Jay spoke about accepting the public collapse of her marriage, saying it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
She compared divorce to an unexpected plane crash, especially after having her first child and amid Ethan’s relationship with Ariana.
She missed her life of invisibility as a psychologist and praised Ethan as a co-parent, emphasizing their shared love for their son.
While some reached out about her tabloid appearances, Lilly noted her patients remained silent and reflected on the challenges and opportunities the unwanted publicity brings.
