Ethan Slater's Estranged Wife Breaks Silence Amid Ariana Grande Romance

Ethan Slater's wife is speaking out for the first time about her estranged husband's reported new romance with his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, shortly after it was announced that he filed for divorce.

As news of Slater's rumored new fling with the "Thank U, Next" singer has been making headlines for days, his wife, Lilly Jay, has finally broken her silence on the matter.

"[Ariana's] the story really. Not a girl's girl," Jay said while getting brutally honest with Page Six, adding, "My family is just collateral damage."

She expressed a similar statement to TMZ, noting, "I'm focused on my son and doing my best to navigate a spotlight I have never wanted or experienced before."

"I am asking for privacy and respect as an individual who is not in the entertainment industry and as a mom," she continued. "I ask to be left alone to rebuild my life and raise the beautiful boy I gave birth to last year."

Prior to his alleged relationship with Grande, the SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical star, 31, had been with Jay for ten years. They tied the knot back in 2018 and welcomed their first child together in August 2022.

Jay's public comments come on the heels of Slater filing for divorce in a New York court on Wednesday, July 26. According to the legal documents obtained by TMZ, the reason listed for their split has not been made clear.

Sources previously told TMZ that Jay was allegedly shocked by Slater's choice to call things off, and is "devastated" that they won't get to raise their son together as a family. Jay also reportedly felt "betrayed and heartbroken" by the news of Slater's rumored fling with Grande, who recently split from husband of two years Dalton Gomez.

Another source spilled to the outlet, "It's understandable that emotions are high and it's hard seeing your ex move on, especially in such a public way, and her friends are trying to protect her. But Ari and Ethan are just trying to lay low and be respectful of their exes as they pursue this new relationship."

Next: Ethan Slater's Broadway Co-Star Responds to 'Unexpected' Ariana Grande Romance