Ethan Slater’s ex-wife opens up about divorce amid ‘Wicked’ promotion

Lilly Jay reflects on her divorce from Ethan Slater during the ‘Wicked’ movie promotion in a heartfelt essay.

Dr. Lilly Jay, the ex-wife of ‘Wicked’ star Ethan Slater, has shared a personal essay reflecting on the challenges of navigating life after their divorce.

 The essay, published in The Cut, reveals her struggles with the media attention surrounding Slater’s relationship with pop star Ariana Grande during the promotion of the upcoming musical film.

Without naming Slater or Grande directly, Jay opened up about the emotional toll of her childhood sweetheart filing for divorce and entering a public relationship with Grande shortly after. Jay, a clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health, detailed the complexities of balancing her professional and personal life. She noted how the promotion of Wicked often served as a reminder of "the saddest days" of her life.

Jay married Slater in 2018 after dating since high school, and the couple welcomed their son in 2022. In her essay, she recounted experiencing postpartum depression and loss of control during her pregnancy, all while not realizing the growing emotional distance in her marriage.

The public nature of her divorce and the speculation around Grande’s involvement only added to Jay’s challenges. Despite these struggles, Jay emphasized her commitment to co-parenting their son, saying, "Both of us fiercely love our son regardless of how our parenting time is divided."

Her essay also serves as a message to potential clients, acknowledging her newfound public image and refocusing on their needs. Grande, who stars as Glinda in Wicked, previously denied speculation about her role in the couple’s split.