Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are said to be feeling “relieved” after his ex-wife, Lilly Jay, chose to keep a calm tone in an emotional essay about her divorce from the actor.
On Thursday, Jay addressed the end of her marriage to Slater, which later led to his romantic relationship with Grande, his co-star in the film adaptation of “Wicked.”
According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, “They’re relieved that Lilly didn’t throw them under the bus.”
The insider added that both the “Thank U Next” singer and the “SpongeBob” actor are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding their romance as well as the timeline of events, noting that “Lilly made it clear that she moved to London with him” and that “the timeline from that point forward speaks for itself.”
Although Jay’s divorce agreement imposed restrictions on her disclosing specific details about the breakup, it still allowed her to share her emotional experiences.
“During the proceedings, Lilly was basically silent, unable to speak freely,” the source explained. Despite the circumstances, she came out of her divorce a winner.”
The psychologist is said to have shown dignity by not discussing the case publicly.
Jay emphasized his commitment to presenting his story respectfully for his son’s benefit, saying, “She knew that one day her son would read this online.”
The source pointed out that Jay’s essay included a subtle jab at Slater through a “sponge” analogy, suggesting a sense of liberation now that her story has come out.
In an essay published on The Cut, Jay shared her experiences as a single mother and the unexpected end of her long-term relationship. She explains how motherhood filled her time but not her mind as she experienced the public breakdown of her marriage.
The mother of one further noted that she never anticipated divorce, especially not right after giving birth to her first child while her husband continued to pursue a celebrity.
Slater and Jay finalized their divorce in September after separating in 2022. The actor filed for divorce on July 26, 2023, citing irreconcilable differences and requesting custody of their children common to their two-year-old son.
Meanwhile, Grande also finalized her divorce from Dalton Gomez in October 2023, shortly after announcing her relationship with Slater.
In October, Slater addressed the backlash stemming from the circumstances of his relationship with Grande, highlighting the challenges of having their private lives under public scrutiny.
He told GQ, “I think there’s something really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and examined by the public.”
“There are a lot of big changes in private life that have really taken place, so it’s hard to see people who know nothing about what’s going on commenting on it.”
Likewise, Grande defended Slater, describing his negative portrayal in the media as inaccurate.
“There can be no less accurate depiction of a person than the image the tabloids spread of him,” the “7 Rings” singer explained to Vanity Fair.
“No one on this earth tries harder or leaner to be there for the people he loves and cares about.”
Tags Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater