Ethan Slater’s ex wife has broken her silence on his new relationship with Ariana Grande and shared a heartbreaking confession about their new movie Wicked.

The actor met Ariana on the set of the film adaptation of the musical Wicked in 2022. Their relationship caused a huge stir as Ethan was legally married at the time – and so too was Ariana. At the time their relationship was made public, Ethan, 32, was married to his wife Lilly Jay, who he shares a child with.

It has been claimed that Ethan and Ariana kick started their alleged affair while filming the two-part film of the theatre production. Lilly has admitted the release of the Hollywood blockbuster has brought up more emotions for her. She devastatingly said: “Days when I can’t escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker.”

In a candid essay, Lilly reflected on the breakdown of her marriage. “In the countless hours I spend rocking my son to sleep, pushing his stroller, marveling at his sweaty little hands grasping a crayon, I work diligently on my private project of accepting the sudden public downfall of my marriage,” she wrote in The Cut.

“This, I tell myself, is nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to hide. Slowly but surely, I have come to believe that in the absence of the life I planned with my high-school sweetheart, a lifetime of sweetness is waiting for me and my child.” Lilly shared that while her partnership with Ethan has changed yet their parenting hasn’t.

Ethan and Lilly were married and share a child together ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

He is now in a relationship with Wicked co-star Ariana Grande ( 
Image:
Variety via Getty Images)
She said they both “fiercely love” their son “100 percent of the time”. The mum-of-one reflected that she never thought her marriage would end in divorce and “especially not just after giving birth to my first child”. She admitted she has been in a season of “shock and mourning” in the past year since their split became public knowledge.

Lilly heartbreakingly shared how she deeply misses a “life of invisibility” that she had created for herself as a psychologist. Ethan recently confessed has found it “difficult” with having his relationship with singer Ariana being in the public eye. The actor was seen posing on his own while on the red carpet of Wicked, while the hitmaker was pictured with co-star Cynthia Erivo.

Speaking to GQ magazine, the film star explained how his relationship has been with Ariana in the public glare. He said: “I think there was something that was really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public.” Ethan added: “It’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love.” A year on, the pair appear to be going from strength to strength despite the scandal surrounding their on-set romance.