Actor Ethan Slater, known for his work in “SpongeBob SquarePants” on Broadway, is now separated from his wife Lilly Jay. The news of their separation comes amid reports of Slater dating his “Wicked” co-star, Ariana Grande. Slater and Jay began dating in 2012 and got married in November 2018. They have a son named Ezra, born in August 2022.
The news of Slater’s relationship with Ariana Grande comes after her reported breakup with husband Dalton Gomez. A source confirmed that Grande and Dalton separated in January, and she and Slater recently began dating. Both Slater and Grande have not commented on their relationship publicly, and their representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
Previously, Slater announced the birth of their first child by sharing a photo of a onesie on Instagram that read “Wicked Cute.” He confirmed on Mother’s Day that they had welcomed a son. On their fourth wedding anniversary, Slater posted a tribute to Jay, calling her his best friend and sharing various photos of their time together.
As for Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez’s separation, sources have mentioned that their long-distance relationship, partly due to Grande working on the “Wicked” movie overseas, put a strain on their marriage. Slater will be playing the role of Boq, the love interest of Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, in the film adaptation of “Wicked,” while Ariana Grande will be playing Glinda. The movie began shooting in the U.K. last year and was originally scheduled for release in November 2024, though it’s unclear if the SAG-AFTRA strike will affect its premiere.