Ariana Grande's Boyfriend Ethan Slater Finally Settles His Divorce
By Afouda Bamidele on September 13, 2024 at 5:45 PM EDT
The only red tape stopping Ariana Grande and her beau, Ethan Slater, from fully exploring their romance is finally out of the way.
The Broadway star and his estranged wife, Lilly Jay, have reportedly finalized the terms of their divorce and reached a joint settlement.
Ethan Slater and Lilly Jay's love story reportedly came to an abrupt end after five years of marriage in 2023 when the Broadway star filed for divorce.
The Terms Of Ariana Grande's Beau's Divorce Are Sealed
Like all divorces in New York, the details of Ethan and Lilly's divorce agreement are sealed, as the judge signed off on the dissolution. Ethan and Lilly's marriage is now officially behind them, a dramatic turn from the love story that began in 2014.
The former couple reportedly grew up together in Maryland and relocated to New York in 2014, where Ethan focused on his theater career.
Ethan's sacrifice bore fruit in 2018 when he was nominated for his work as SpongeBob Squarepants in the musical adaptation of the Nickelodeon cartoon at the Tony Awards. His then-sweetheart was by his side on the red carpet.
According to TMZ, Ethan and Lilly took their love story a step further by walking down the aisle that same year. They expanded their family and welcomed their first child, a son, in 2022.
Ethan Slater Was Reportedly Dating Grande When He Filed For Divorce
The Broadway star's divorce filing came right in the middle of his alleged relationship with his "Wicked" costar. Like her rumored boyfriend at the time, Grande had already separated from her husband, Dalton Gomez, earlier that year.
The pair initially kept their love affair under wraps, but they were soon sighted later in the year, precisely October, on a date at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City, getting hot and heavy with their PDA.
The "Break Free" singer then supported her man on Halloween at the first performance of his "Spamalot" revival on Broadway.
The former Nickelodeon star also addressed her divorce from Gomez and new romance with Ethan in her 7th studio album "Eternal Sunshine."
Grande And Ethan Moved In Together Last Year
Last October, The Blast reported that the new couple did not hesitate to hit the ground running, as sources close to them confirmed that they were cohabiting full-time in New York City.
The source claimed that Ethan's ex-wife was aware of the new development at that time, as he informed her and his friends.
Lilly was reportedly earlier blindsided by Ethan and Grande's relationship as they were in a good place before it all went south, and her estranged husband even dedicated a Mother's Day post to her in May.
That is not all. Ethan and Lilly also went on multiple double dates with Grande and Gomez and met each other's families, including Grande's mom and brother.
Another source revealed that Ethan only informed his ex-wife of his affair with Grande days before it hit the papers. He also informed her of his intentions to file for divorce.
"Ariana and Ethan weren't careful. They'd hold hands on set in between takes. They were sloppy and not hiding it," the source claimed. However, another inside clarified that Ethan and Lilly were already separated before he began dating Grande, noting:
"It's understandable that it's difficult to see an ex move on, especially in such a public way, and they are trying to be as respectful as possible."
The Lovebirds Took Their Romance The Stanley Cup Finals
Ethan and his lover were spotted at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida in June, enjoying a date night as they watched the game.
The Blast reported that Grande and Ethan supported the Florida Panthers by rocking their merch in style. The duo enjoyed each other's company as they sat close to each other in the stands and cheered their favorite team on.
Unsurprisingly, the singer, who hails from Boca Raton, Florida, pitched her tent with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers also made her proud by beating the Edmonton Oilers 3-0.
Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater Spent Time With Her Father
The couple also went on a date with Grande's dad last year. Ethan and the "Victorious" star were spotted grabbing dinner with Ed Butera at her family's favorite Italian restaurant.
An insider close to the scene confirmed that the trio proceeded to watch "Spamalot" after their feast. "They love to support each other in their work," claimed the source, who added that when Grande is "done with work, she loves going to the theater when she can."
What is next for Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande following his official divorce? Time will tell!
