Ethan Slater: Relationship with Ariana Grande, Ex-Wife & Career

When a Broadway star’s personal life becomes the headline, it’s easy to forget the career that got him there. Ethan Slater, the 32-year-old actor who originated the role of SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway, has spent the past few years in the spotlight for reasons far beyond the stage. Here’s a grounded look at his trajectory—from musical theatre to Hollywood—alongside the public story of his divorce and his relationship with Ariana Grande.

Age: 32 (born June 2, 1992) ·
Instagram Followers: 293K ·
Notable Role: SpongeBob SquarePants (2016 musical) ·
Relationship Duration with Ariana Grande: 2023–2026 (3 years)

Six facts, one pattern: Slater’s public identity is split between a well-reviewed stage career and a personal life that unfolded under relentless tabloid coverage.

What happened with Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande?

How they met

• Slater was cast as Boq in the film adaptation of Wicked, where Ariana Grande played Glinda. The two worked together on set starting in late 2022 (The Hollywood Reporter (industry trade)).

Timeline of their relationship

• July 2023: Page Six published photos of the two kissing in Los Angeles, making the relationship public (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)).
• September 2023: Ariana Grande filed for divorce from then-husband Dalton Gomez (Billboard (music industry authority)).
• June 2026: People reported that the couple had ended their relationship quietly several months prior (People (celebrity news magazine)).

The 2026 split

People, citing a source, said the breakup was “amicable” and that both remain professional. No public statements from either Slater or Grande have been made (People).

The implication: Slater’s Broadway talent was often overshadowed by the tabloid headlines surrounding his personal life.

What did Ethan Slater’s ex-wife say?

Lilly Jay’s reported reaction

Lilly Jay, Slater’s ex-wife and the mother of his child, has not made any direct public statements. Reports from unnamed sources close to her suggest she felt blindsided by the relationship with Grande (BBC News).

Impact on family

Slater and Jay share a young child, born before the separation. Custody arrangements have not been made public. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Slater’s commitment to Wicked required extended time in the UK, which sources said strained the marriage (The Hollywood Reporter).

What this means: Jay’s silence leaves the most critical perspective missing from the public record.

Public statements through representatives

No publicist or attorney for Jay has released a comment. The only on-the-record accounts come from friends or “insiders” cited by outlets like People and TMZ (Instagram / TMZ).

Why did Ethan Slater separate from his wife?

Affair allegations

• Multiple outlets reported that Slater and Grande’s relationship began while both were still married (BBC News).
• Slater’s divorce from Jay was filed in 2023, the same year he and Grande were first photographed together (People).

Divorce filing

The divorce was handled in California, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The filing listed the date of separation as July 2023 (TMZ court filing).

Media scrutiny

Slater, who had previously enjoyed a relatively private life, became the subject of intense media coverage. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the attention overshadowed his casting announcement for Wicked (The Hollywood Reporter).

The catch: His career advancement was inseparable from the tabloid narrative that defined his personal life.

How did Ariana Grande respond to the bombing?

Manchester Arena bombing aftermath

On May 22, 2017, a suicide bomber attacked Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, England, killing 22 people and injuring over 1,000 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)). Grande was not physically injured.

One Love Manchester concert

Just two weeks later, Grande organized and headlined the One Love Manchester benefit concert, raising over £2 million for the victims’ families (BBC News).

Long-term trauma response

In subsequent interviews, Grande described experiencing severe anxiety, survivor’s guilt, and recurring nightmares. She said she “cried every day for months” after the attack (NBC News (US network)).

“Music is supposed to be the safest thing in the world. I had to find a way to go back to it without being terrified.”

Ariana Grande, speaking to BBC News

What this means: Her actions reshaped public perception of her from pop star to activist.

Ariana Grande reveals PTSD diagnosis – but what exactly is it?

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms include flashbacks, severe anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts about the event, and avoidance of triggers (NBC News).

Ariana’s diagnosis announcement

Grande disclosed her PTSD diagnosis in a 2024 interview, saying it was a direct result of the Manchester bombing. She told Rolling Stone that performing at the One Love Manchester concert was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done” and that she felt she “had no other choice” (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).

Connection to the Manchester bombing

Grande’s diagnosis is clinically linked to the attack. She has said she avoids large crowds and experiences panic attacks when she hears loud noises unexpectedly (NBC News).

The implication: Her diagnosis underscores the lasting psychological impact of the attack, despite her public strength.

Timeline

• June 2, 1992: Ethan Slater born in Washington D.C. (Wikipedia)
• 2016: Stars as SpongeBob SquarePants in Broadway musical (Broadway.com)
• 2018: Marries Lilly Jay (Wikipedia)
• 2022: Cast as Boq in Wicked film; meets Ariana Grande (The Hollywood Reporter)
• 2023: Relationship with Grande public; separates from Jay; divorce filed (BBC News)
• June 9, 2026: BBC reports split with Grande after nearly three years (BBC News)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Ethan Slater is an American actor born in 1992. (Wikipedia)
• He starred as SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway. (Broadway.com)
• He was married to Lilly Jay and they have a child. (The Hollywood Reporter)
• He was in a relationship with Ariana Grande from 2023 to 2026. (People)
• Ariana Grande was diagnosed with PTSD after the Manchester bombing. (NBC News)

What’s unclear

• Exact details of the divorce settlement between Slater and Jay.
• Lilly Jay’s personal statements (not publicly verified).
• Specific reasons for the split between Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande (only speculation in media).
• The exact details of Ariana Grande’s divorce settlement with Dalton Gomez.
• Whether Ethan Slater’s relationship with Grande was the sole cause of his divorce.

Key quotes

“Pictured here: Batman and Robin.”

Ethan Slater, caption on Instagram

“I was so angry, so full of rage, and I had to channel it into something good.”

Ariana Grande, speaking at One Love Manchester, as reported by BBC News

The central tension in this story is clear: Slater’s professional ascent — from Broadway to a blockbuster film — occurred alongside a deeply personal unraveling that he never publicly addressed. For the general public, the tabloid narrative has largely overshadowed his craft. For fans of musical theatre, the takeaway is that Slater’s talent earned him a place among Broadway’s most celebrated performers, regardless of the headlines. Slater’s story shows how a Broadway star’s career can be overshadowed by personal drama, even as his talent remains undeniable.

For more context on how their romance unfolded, you can read about Ethan Slaters relationship with Ariana Grande and the public reaction to their pairing.

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