Ariana Grande's new boyfriend Ethan Slater officially files for divorce from 'devastated' wife
- The actor filed for divorce from Lilly Jay in New York on Wednesday
- He and Lilly share a son who was born in August last year
- Lilly was 'completely blindsided' by his romance with Grande and feels as though Slater has 'abandoned' their family, according to insiders
Ariana Grande's new boyfriend Ethan Slater has officially filed for divorce from his 'devastated' wife Lilly Jay.
The actor — who co-stars alongside Grande in the upcoming film adaptation of Broadway's Wicked — filed papers in New York on Wednesday.
He and Lilly have been married since 2018 and share an infant son that they welcomed last August.
Earlier this month, Grande shocked fans by ending her two-year marriage to real estate agent Dalton Gomez.
Slater and Grande are said to have struck up a romance while filming Wicked in London over the past year.
![Ariana Grande's new boyfriend Ethan Slater has officially filed for divorce from his wife Lilly Jay](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/27/00/73659541-0-image-a-1_1690414359967.jpg)
Ariana Grande's new boyfriend Ethan Slater has officially filed for divorce from his wife Lilly Jay
![The actor ¿ who co-stars alongside Grande in the upcoming film adaptation of Broadway's Wicked ¿ filed papers in New York on Wednesday, as per TMZ](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/27/00/73660103-12342375-image-m-5_1690415085830.jpg)
The actor — who co-stars alongside Grande in the upcoming film adaptation of Broadway's Wicked — filed papers in New York on Wednesday, as per TMZ
A source close to Jay told recently dished to TMZ that Slater's wife was 'completely blindsided' by the news and feels as though Slater 'abandoned' their family.
She's also said to be upset by the fact their son won't have both parents around him constantly and feels like Slater has 'completely turned his back on his family.'
In another blow, the 'heartbroken' new mom feels 'betrayed' because Grande - who will star alongside Slater in the upcoming Wicked movie - had previously spent time with herself and her husband when they were still married.
Another source claimed that 'Ari and Ethan are just trying to lay low and be respectful of their exes as they pursue this new relationship.'
It's not clear when Grande and Slater began dating but it's been claimed the pair started seeing each other 'several months ago.'
Slater praised his estranged wife in a sweet Instagram post just two months before his apparent new romance with the singer was revealed.
He shared the post on May 14 — Mother's Day — in which he sang his wife's praises and revealed that the couple's first child was a boy.
'Happy first Mother's Day to the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world,' he wrote, signing it '- from me and this little guy.'
The post shared few details about Ethan's marriage or his son, and instead he posted an out-of-focus shot of the little boy from behind, with his much clearer shadow projected on a wall in front of him.
It's unclear from the post, which got a like from Grande, if Slater was still together with his wife at the time.
A source has claimed that Slater informed his wife about his romance with Grande and asked for a divorce 'a few days before the news broke'.
'Ethan sat Lilly down a few days before the news broke about him and Ariana and said that he wanted a divorce,' a source told Us Weekly. 'Lilly never saw it coming!'
Another insider close to the break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored singer denied the claims while a third insider said Grande and Slater 'were separated when they started dating and the relationship is recent.'
![He and Lilly have been married since 2018 and share an infant son that they welcomed last August; sen in 2018](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/27/00/73660231-12342375-image-a-6_1690415131452.jpg)
He and Lilly have been married since 2018 and share an infant son that they welcomed last August; sen in 2018
![On-set romance? Slater and Grande are said to have struck up a romance while filming Wicked in London over the past year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/27/00/73659561-0-image-a-2_1690414368309.jpg)
On-set romance? Slater and Grande are said to have struck up a romance while filming Wicked in London over the past year
![Split: Earlier this month, Grande shocked fans by ending her two-year marriage to real estate agent Dalton Gomez; the exes pictured](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/27/00/73660277-12342375-image-a-7_1690415176922.jpg)
Split: Earlier this month, Grande shocked fans by ending her two-year marriage to real estate agent Dalton Gomez; the exes pictured
'It's understandable that its difficult to see an ex move on, especially in such a public way, and they are trying to be as respectful as possible,' the third source went on.
The insider also added that the pair weren't shy in front of the cast and crew, after connecting on set of the upcoming Wicked movie.
'Ariana and Ethan weren't careful. They'd hold hands on set in between takes. They were sloppy and not hiding it.'
Last week it was revealed that Slater's wife has been having a tough time dealing with the news of the romance.
The insider explained: 'It's horrible. They were high school sweethearts. They have a baby! She's a wreck.'
In November, Slater celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary on Instagram, where called called his wife, 'My best friend.'
He added, '4 years married, 10 years together.'
After news of the relationship broke, the Broadway star set his Instagram account — which the God Is A Woman singer follows — to private.
Slater costars with Grande in Wicked as Boq, a munchkin who falls in love with her character Glinda, though she goes by Galinda earlier in the story.
However, when she spurns his advances, he ends up with Nessarose, the sister of the green-skinned protagonist Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo.
![A source has claimed that Slater informed his wife about his romance with Grande and asked for a divorce 'a few days before the news broke'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/27/00/73660303-12342375-image-a-9_1690415267374.jpg)
A source has claimed that Slater informed his wife about his romance with Grande and asked for a divorce 'a few days before the news broke'
![Moved one: Last week it was reported that Grande's now-estranged husband wanted to make it work but she had 'moved on' amid her new romance; seen in 2020](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/07/27/00/73660299-12342375-image-a-8_1690415233201.jpg)
Moved one: Last week it was reported that Grande's now-estranged husband wanted to make it work but she had 'moved on' amid her new romance; seen in 2020
Last week it was reported that Grande's estranged husband wanted to make it work but she had 'moved on' amid her new romance.
The 27-year-old real estate agent had not given up hope of a reconciliation according to a People report from Friday.
A source told the weekly: 'Dalton is very religious and was committed to making it work, but Ariana had moved on.'
Their split after a two-year marriage was announced earlier this month, although they are said to have split in January.
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