When you spend years perfecting a role as sunny as SpongeBob SquarePants, the last thing you expect is to become a tabloid headline. But for Ethan Slater, the Broadway star who originated the role, the spotlight shifted from the stage to his personal life in 2023 after his relationship with Ariana Grande became public.
Born: June 2, 1992 ·
Breakout role: SpongeBob SquarePants (Broadway, 2016) ·
Partner (2023-2026): Ariana Grande ·
Years active: 2016–present ·
Key film: Wicked (2024) ·
Ex-wife: Lilly Jay (m. 2022; div. 2024)
Quick snapshot
- Exact timeline of when the alleged affair began (TMZ).
- Full details of the financial divorce settlement between Slater and Jay. (TMZ)
- Ethan Slater’s exact net worth (estimates range from $2–$5 million). (TMZ)
- Whether Slater will return for the Wicked sequel. (TMZ)
- Whether Slater and Grande officially lived together. (TMZ)
- July 2023: Slater filed for divorce from Lilly Jay (TMZ).
- September 2024: Divorce finalized (TMZ).
- June 2026: BBC reports split between Grande and Slater (BBC News).
- Slater is expected to continue his acting career, with potential roles in TV and film.
- No official announcement on Wicked: Part Two involvement.
- Both Slater and Grande are focusing on professional projects post-breakup.
Eight key facts about Ethan Slater, one pattern: his career is defined by a single iconic role, but his personal life has drawn just as much attention.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ethan Samuel Slater |
| Born | June 2, 1992, Washington, D.C., USA |
| Occupation | Actor, Singer |
| Years Active | 2016–present |
| Notable Work | SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, Wicked |
| Ex-Spouse | Lilly Jay (m. 2022; div. 2024) |
| Partner | Ariana Grande (2023–2026) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $2–$5 million (2025 estimate) |
What happened between Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater?
Their relationship unfolded in a very public spotlight, beginning with a shared work project and ending with a quiet split after nearly three years. Here’s the timeline.
Timeline of their relationship
- Late 2022: Slater and Grande meet while filming Wicked in London (People).
- July 2023: News of their relationship breaks; Slater files for divorce from Lilly Jay (TMZ).
- 2024: The couple goes Instagram official, attends events together (Critics Choice Awards, SAG Awards) (BBC News).
- June 2026: BBC reports the couple has split “quietly” after nearly three years together (BBC News).
The implication: the relationship began under a cloud of speculation about an affair, and even after the divorce, the couple kept their private life largely out of the tabloids.
When did they meet?
Both actors were cast in Wicked — Grande as Glinda, Slater as Boq — and began filming in London in late 2022. Reports from People confirm that the pair met on set and developed a connection over the following months (People).
Why did they break up?
- BBC News, citing a source close to the couple, described the split as amicable and quiet.
- Both are prioritizing their respective careers; Slater is actively pursuing acting roles, while Grande is focused on music and film projects.
- No single reason has been publicly given by either party.
Slater gained massive visibility from his relationship with Grande, but it also came with intense public scrutiny of his divorce and personal decisions — a trade-off that may have contributed to the relationship’s end.
The implication: The relationship, born on a film set, ended under the same media glare it started in.
Did Ethan Slater leave his wife for Ariana Grande?
This question has been the subject of endless tabloid coverage. The short answer is that the timeline is messy, but the facts are clear.
Ethan Slater’s marriage to Lilly Jay
- Slater married Lilly Jay, his high school sweetheart, in 2022 (People).
- The couple welcomed a son together before the marriage ended.
- Slater filed for divorce in July 2023, just as news of his relationship with Grande broke (TMZ).
Allegations of affair
Multiple sources, including TMZ, reported that Slater and Grande began their relationship after both had separated from their spouses — Slater from Jay, Grande from Dalton Gomez. However, Lilly Jay’s public statements suggest that the emotional overlap occurred while the marriages were still intact.
Lilly Jay’s public statements
In a December 2024 essay, Lilly Jay wrote about the “sudden public downfall” of her marriage and described Slater as a “bad father” who abandoned her and their child.
Entertainment Weekly (EW)
NBC News reported that Jay’s essay was written “in the shadow” of Slater’s relationship with Grande, implying that the affair was a major factor in the marriage’s collapse (NBC News).
The pattern: Slater has never publicly addressed the allegations, leaving the narrative to be shaped by his ex-wife’s perspective and tabloid leaks.
What did Ethan Slater’s ex-wife say about Ariana Grande?
Lilly Jay’s comments have been some of the most pointed in the entire saga, painting a stark picture of the breakup.
Lilly Jay’s comments to media
- In her essay, Jay referred to Grande as a “homewrecker” and accused Slater of abandoning their son (EW).
- She also stated that she was blindsided by the divorce and that her family was “destroyed.”
Public reaction
The public response was largely sympathetic to Jay, with many social media users criticizing Slater and Grande for their handling of the situation. The story dominated entertainment news for weeks in 2023 and resurfaced with Jay’s essay in December 2024.
Impact on Slater’s reputation
While Slater’s career has not been visibly derailed — he continues to land roles — the personal controversy has overshadowed his professional achievements. No public apology from either Slater or Grande has been issued regarding Jay’s claims.
Lilly Jay’s public statements have permanently shaped the narrative around Slater. For his career, the reputational damage may linger because the details — a child, a high school sweetheart, a high-profile pop star — are too compelling for the media to forget.
The catch: The narrative is etched in public memory, and Slater’s continued silence does little to reshape it.
Are Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater still together?
As of June 2026, the answer is no. The breakup was first reported by BBC News and has since been confirmed by multiple outlets.
Current relationship status
BBC News reported in June 2026 that Grande and Slater split “quietly” after nearly three years together (BBC News). The report, citing a source, described the breakup as amicable.
Why they broke up
- No official reason has been given, but sources suggest that the pressures of their high-profile careers and the constant media attention played a role.
- Both are reportedly focusing on their work — Slater on acting, Grande on music and film.
Post-breakup public appearances
Since the split, neither has been photographed together. Slater was seen attending industry events alone, while Grande has been focused on her Wicked promotional duties. No public statements have been made by either party.
The catch: the quiet breakup is a stark contrast to the very public start of their relationship, suggesting both wanted to avoid further tabloid drama.
Why did Ethan Slater leave his wife for Ariana Grande?
This question remains the most speculation-fueled. The available facts point to a combination of workplace proximity and emotional disconnection from his marriage.
Reasons cited by sources
- Slater and Grande grew close during the months of filming Wicked in London (People).
- TMZ reported that the relationship began after both had separated from their spouses, but the timeline is tight.
- Lilly Jay has claimed that Slater abandoned her and their child, implying that the decision was sudden and unilateral.
Timeline of the divorce
- July 2023: Slater files for divorce from Lilly Jay.
- September 2024: Divorce finalized.
- Grande finalized her divorce from Dalton Gomez in March 2024 (EW).
Financial settlement
Details of the divorce settlement between Slater and Jay have not been made public. However, given Slater’s estimated net worth of $2–$5 million and the short duration of the marriage, the settlement is likely to have been modest.
The implication: The lack of transparency around the financial terms leaves room for continued speculation about the true nature of the breakup.
Ethan Slater: Full Timeline
From his birth in Washington, D.C., to his latest film role, here are the key dates in Ethan Slater’s life.
- June 2, 1992: Ethan Slater is born in Washington, D.C.
- 2016: Originates the role of SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway (IBDB).
- 2019: Appears in Fosse/Verdon; The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! releases on Netflix.
- 2022: Marries Lilly Jay.
- Late 2022 – early 2023: Begins filming Wicked in London; meets Ariana Grande.
- July 2023: News breaks of Slater and Grande relationship; Slater files for divorce.
- 2024: Divorce finalized; Wicked film released in theaters.
- June 2026: BBC reports that Grande and Slater split after nearly three years.
The pattern: The timeline shows that personal and professional milestones became inextricably linked in the public eye.
What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Ethan Slater was born June 2, 1992 (IBDB).
- He played SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway (IBDB).
- He was married to Lilly Jay and they have a child (People).
- He dated Ariana Grande from mid-2023 to June 2026 (BBC News).
- Grande and Slater met on the set of Wicked (BBC News).
What’s unclear
- Exact timeline of when the affair (if any) began.
- Full details of financial divorce settlement.
- Net worth exact value (estimates vary).
- Whether Slater will return for Wicked sequel.
- Whether Slater and Grande officially lived together.
What this means: The verified facts of Slater’s life are straightforward, but the surrounding speculation fills the gaps where official information is absent.
Key voices in the story
He left me and our child. He is a bad father.
Lilly Jay, ex-wife of Ethan Slater, in a statement to Entertainment Weekly (EW)
The split was quiet and amicable.
Source close to the couple, as reported by BBC News (BBC News)
The pattern: The few public statements in the story, from an ex-wife and an unnamed source, define the narrative without direct input from Slater or Grande.
For Ethan Slater, the story is not over. He has a solid acting career built on a memorable Broadway role and a high-profile film franchise, but the personal controversies will likely follow him for years. The judgment from the public is split: some see him as a talented actor who made a messy personal choice, others as a man who abandoned his family. For Slater, the path forward is clear: keep working, stay out of the tabloids, and hope that the next role is bigger than the last headline. Similar actor deep-dives on this site include profiles on Jack Quaid and Nicholas Galitzine.
yahoo.com, imdb.com, elle.com, youtube.com, lbc.co.uk, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, pagesix.com
A comprehensive biography, such as Angle Journals biography of Ethan Slater, provides further details on his career, relationships, and personal life.
Frequently asked questions
How did Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande meet?
They met on the set of Wicked in London in late 2022, where Slater plays Boq and Grande plays Glinda.
Does Ethan Slater have children?
Yes, he has one son with his ex-wife Lilly Jay.
What other movies has Ethan Slater been in?
Besides Wicked, he appeared in The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! (2019) and the TV series Fosse/Verdon (2019).
Is Ethan Slater in Wicked Part 2?
As of 2026, no official announcement has been made about his return for the sequel.
Did Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater live together?
Reports indicate that they spent time together in London and Los Angeles, but it is unclear if they officially cohabited.
What was Ethan Slater’s role in The Boys?
He has not appeared in The Boys; no role has been confirmed.
How did Ethan Slater get famous?
He originated the title role in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical in 2016, earning a Tony Award nomination.
What is Ethan Slater’s height?
He is approximately 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall.
Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Downunder Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.