I know I’m not alone when I say that the Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez, and Ethan Slater drama has been taking over not only my FYP, but my entire life. With new developments coming out every single day, my roommate has resorted to sending me updates on all of my social media platforms. And while neither Slater, Grande, or Gomez have commented on the drama, a new voice has stepped up to the spotlight to spill the tea on WTF is going on: Slater’s reportedly soon-to-be ex-wife, Lilly Jay.
Now, if you’re not all caught up on the Gomez-Grande-Slater saga, I’ll give you a TD;LR version. Basically, Ariana Grande married Dalton Gomez in May 2021 — after her whirlwind romance with Pete Davidson, of course. The two were linked in January 2020, stayed together through the pandemic, and tied the knot in an intimate ceremony. After their super private wedding, the couple flew under the radar for quite some time. That is, until July 2023, when Grande was spotted at Wimbledon without a ring and without Gomez. And, right as divorce rumors began to swirl, reports came out that Gomez and Grade had been separated since January 2023. (Her Campus previously reached out to Gomez and Grande’s teams for comment but didn’t hear back.)
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering, where does Ethan Slater, star of the Spongebob Squarepants musical, fit into this? Well, this is where things start to level up. Just days after the Gomez and Grande separation rumors, publications reported at Grande was dating her Wicked costar, Ethan Slater. (Her Campus reached out to their teams for comment but didn’t hear back.) The wildest part? Up until this point, Slater was married to his high school sweetheart, Lilly Jay, who he welcomed a child with in 2022. Oof.
In the days following the bombshell news, Salter and Grande (and Gomez, too) have been silent. However, on July 27, Jay spoke exclusively to several different news outlets to tell her side of the story. This comes after the news broke that Slater officially filed for divorce on July 26.
“[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl,” Jay told Page Six. “My family is just collateral damage.” She then went on to add, “The story is her and Dalton.” Additionally, Jay provided another statement to The Daily Mail, where she said, “I am focused on rebuilding a life for our son and rebuilding a life for him. This is what I am trying to do and this is my only focus.” Her Campus reached out to Grande and Slater’s teams for comment but didn’t hear back by the time of publication.
In the same article, a source close to Jay reported to The Daily Mail that Grande had spent time with Jay, Slater, and their son while the two were still married. “Lilly hung out with Ethan and Ariana so many times,” the source reported. “Ariana met their baby and even held him. They had dinners together in London — and Ariana told Lilly that she wanted to have a baby one day and that she couldn’t wait to start a family.”
While Jay has yet to provide a sit-down interview, I know the entire world will be waiting to hear what else she has to say. Until then, I’ll keep counting on my roommate, and my FYP, to help me update you on this whirlwind saga.