In a surprising turn of events, pop star Ariana Grande's new romantic involvement with actor Ethan Slater has left his estranged wife, Lilly Jay, feeling 'betrayed' and 'heartbroken'. The couple, who have been together since high school and share a son born in August 2022, separated recently, and Slater's swift move to date Grande has reportedly left Jay reeling.
Sources close to Jay reveal that she is particularly upset about the potential impact on their young son, who now faces a future with his parents living separate lives. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Slater and Jay are not currently on good terms, according to TMZ.
Adding to Jay's distress, Grande had liked a social media post by Slater on Mother's Day this year, in which he celebrated Jay. This public display of affection towards her soon-to-be ex-husband has left Jay feeling 'betrayed'.
However, another source close to the situation has stated that Grande and Slater are trying to navigate their new relationship with respect for their ex-partners. The pair reportedly grew close while working on the set of the upcoming film 'Wicked', leading to Grande's split from her real estate agent husband, Dalton Gomez.
Despite the public nature of their relationship, friends of Grande have insisted that she did not begin dating Slater until after her relationship with Gomez had ended. The couple had reportedly been separated since January.
Earlier this week, a source told Page Six that Jay was 'blindsided' by the news of Slater and Grande's relationship. The source stated, "It's horrible. They were high school sweethearts. They have a baby! She's a wreck." The insider also claimed that there were no apparent issues between Jay and Slater before their separation, making the news of his new relationship even more shocking.
As the situation continues to unfold, all eyes will be on Grande, Slater, and their respective ex-partners as they navigate this complex and emotionally charged situation.