Over a year after separating from actor Ethan Slater, Lilly Jay has finally opened up about their infamous divorce.
On December 19, 2024, the therapist shared a heartfelt personal essay for The Cut magazine titled ‘How Does My Divorce Make You Feel?’, sharing the challenges she faced during the failure of their marriage.
Jay candidly reflected on navigating a divorce shortly after welcoming the couple’s first child and how Slater’s highly publicized romance with singer Ariana Grande overshadowed her personal struggles. She emotionally wrote:
“No one gets married thinking they’ll get divorced… but I really never thought I would get divorced. Especially not just after giving birth to my first child, and especially not in the shadow of my husband’s new relationship with a celebrity”.
As a psychologist specializing in women’s mental health, Lilly detailed the strain of moving to England shortly after the birth of their son to support Ethan’s role in Wicked, which was in production at the time.
These circumstances, coupled with the demands of new motherhood, contributed to the cracks in their marriage. She added,
“I knew all the statistics — how vulnerable a marriage is in the postpartum period… but I confidently moved to another country with my 2-month-old baby and my husband to support his career. Consumed by the magic and mundanity of new motherhood, I didn’t understand the growing distance between us”.
Lilly Jay Reflects On The Challenges Of Privacy Amid A Public Divorce
Lilly also reflected on the difficulties of maintaining her private life while navigating a highly publicized split. As a therapist, Jay emphasized the importance of keeping her personal life out of the public eye.
However, her marriage to Ethan and their subsequent divorce thrust her into an unwelcome spotlight. Sharing her thoughts on balancing social media and life in a famous marriage before their split, she wrote:
“In this season of shock and mourning, over a year after the end of my marriage was made public, I deeply miss the life of invisibility I created… rather than my own narrative for public consumption… My partner was on a different path, in which social media…. [was a necessity]. We… concocted rules of how and what he would share about our lives together”.
Lilly concluded her heartfelt and candid essay by emphasizing that, despite their separation, co-parenting remains a top priority for both her and Slater.
Moreover, reflecting on her struggles over the past months—especially amidst the promotion of Wicked, starring Ethan and Ariana, who made several PDA-filled appearances together at premiere events—Jay opened up about the emotional toll. She shared:
“While our partnership has changed, our parenthood has not. Both of us fiercely love our son… regardless of how our parenting time is divided. As for me, days with my son are sunny. Days when I can’t escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker…”
Lilly Jay and Ethan Slater first met in high school and began dating in 2012. After six years of dating, the couple married in November 2018. Four years later, in late 2022, Lilly and Ethan welcomed their first child, a baby boy.
However, in July 2023, Slater filed for divorce from Lilly and soon after began a public relationship with the We Can’t Be Friends singer.
Fans Harshly Criticize Ethan & Ariana Over His Divorce From Lilly
The online community rallied behind the therapist, expressing sympathy and support for her, while strongly condemning the actions of her ex-husband. Many criticized Slater and Grande for their alleged affair during his marriage to Jay. Some of the comments read:
“She moved to the UK to support him two months after their baby was born… He’s fucking horrible”.
“That clown sucks. Lilly Jay deserves better than how he treated her”.
“Blaming the mistress is only a shitty move when the cheating man lies to them… Ariana not only knew he was married, she met their fucking baby”.
As Lilly Jay continues to navigate the complexities of co-parenting and healing, her bravery in sharing her story has resonated deeply with many. Despite the heartbreak, she remains committed to her son, showing strength in the face of adversity.