If you’re over a certain age, this whole gossip miscommunication went over your head, but the younger people found it confusing. Earlier this year, Ariana Grande dumped her husband, Dalton Gomez, a real estate broker or something. We learned last week that Ariana is now seeing her married costar Ethan Slater. They met while filming Wicked in England. Slater is best known as a Broadway actor, and in 2018, he was nominated for a Tony Award for playing the title role in the SpongeBob SquarePants musical on Broadway. Slater is not the same actor who voices SpongeBob on the cartoon. That actor’s name is Tom Kenny, and Kenny’s wife wants everyone to know that Ariana Grande did not steal her man. Speaking of:
Ethan Slater’s estranged wife Lilly Jay is “devastated” by the news that he and his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande are dating.
A source close to Jay tells ET she’s “devastated” by the breakup with her husband and that “this is not the future she had in mind.” The source adds, “She’s doing her best to get back on her feet. She’s incredibly smart and driven” and “she is truly the best mother.”
Slater married Jay, his former high school classmate, in 2018. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, last year. In November 2022, Slater shared an anniversary tribute to his wife on Instagram, writing, “My best friend. 4 years married, 10 years together. And this is easily the best (and most *bizarre*) year yet.” Grande liked the post.
On Monday, a source confirmed to ET that Grande and Dalton Gomez had separated after two years of marriage, noting that the pair — who tied the knot in May 2021, five months after announcing their engagement — “ultimately were just not a good fit.” Then, just three days later, a source confirmed to ET that Grande and Slater are dating.
“Ariana and Ethan recently started dating. They have a lot in common and have a lot of fun,” the source said. “They didn’t start dating until both were broken up with their significant others. Ariana and Dalton remain friends.”
Just my opinion, but there are only so many times a celebrity woman can pull this Miranda Lambert bullsh-t before it comes back to bite her on the ass. Miranda used to bang married men all the time until it reached public consciousness, that she was a habitual husband-stealer and trainwreck. Then suddenly, Miranda settled down with that cop (now retired) who also had a long-term partner and a baby. It was a damage-control elopement, and she’s made a point of not carrying on openly with married men ever since. It feels like Ariana’s reputation is heading in the same direction – this was internationally messy and it also feels like Lilly Jay will not be going away quietly (nor should she).
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Instagram.
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- Ethan Slater arrives at The 72nd Annual Tony Awards on June 10, 2018 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York, USA.,Image: 515364602, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Robin Platzer/Twin Images / Twin Images / Avalon
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- 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards Arrivals 2020 held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California. Featuring: Ariana Grande Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 26 Jan 2020 **ONLY AVAILABLE FOR SPAIN & USA**,Image: 563134083, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: USA and SPAIN DIRECT SALES ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: WENN / Wenn / Avalon
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- Ariana Grande during the mens’ finals on Day 14 at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club, London, UK, 16 July 2023,Image: 789502243, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: World Rights, Model Release: no, Credit line: Peter van den Berg / Avalon
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- 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at The Staples Center – Arrivals Featuring: Ariana Grande Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 26 Jan 2020 Credit: CF/Cover Images
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- USA Rights Only – New York, USA -20180507- Celebrities pose on the famous stairs at the 2018 MET Gala -PICTURED: Ariana Grande -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -36372344.jpg This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded Featuring: Ariana Grande Where: New York, New York, United States When: 07 May 2018 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com **USA Rights Only**
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- -New York, NY – 20190602 – The 64th Annual Drama Awards Arrivals -PICTURED: Ethan Slater -PHOTO by: Adam Nemser/startraksphoto.com Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Startraks Photo for licensing fee and rights information at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing Featuring: Ethan Slater Where: New York, New York, United States When: 02 Jun 2019 Credit: Adam Nemser/startraksphoto.com
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- -New York, NY – 20200305-Broadway Opening of Girl From The North Country -PICTURED: Ethan Slater -PHOTO by: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Startraks Photo for licensing fee and rights information at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded Featuring: Ethan Slater Where: New York, New York, United States When: 05 Mar 2020 Credit: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com
…all I can think is that all this messiness, and dude is not even good looking…
She definitely goes for guys that are… um… “quirky” in the looks department…
I said this yesterday. Nothing excuses Ariana’s behavior here but it would be more understandable if Slater did not look like SpongeBob SquarePants, who, it turns out, he played on Broadway. That’s the first part of this story that actually makes sense to me.
Typical narcissistic behavior. Have a friend like this. Intentionally dating “down” allows for a controlling relationship.
Honestly F*** Ariana for being a sociopath, and this guy, who is equally bad or even worse… his wife has all my sympathy. She will get sick of him quickly, he will have lost everything and humiliated himself, and her career will take a hit because literally thousands of us reading this all thinks she’s a nut. Nice move guys.
My thoughts exactly. *This* guy? Really?
Any time my husband jokes about me having some dalliances with colleagues, my answer is always the same, that I’d only cheat on him if someone looking like Jason Momoa knocked on my door and asked for a date.
This guy? I’d shut the door on him and I’m far from being pretty and young like AG.
Are you… are you guys bragging about how shallow you are about looks? While putting down AGs morals…?
That aside, this is despicable behaviour and much like Clare Danes and Billy Crudup, I doubt she will ever be able to live this down. Some things are just off limits and literal baby-daddies are one of them.
Much like Miranda, Arianna could have just about any single man she wanted. But she wanted a married one.
It’s a very Debbie Reynolds/Elizabeth Taylor kind of drama. The wife welcomed the eventual mistress because she’s going through something and her kindness gets repaid like this.
LOL. Yeah. I have to be honest, I looked at the picture of him and my first thought was “oh…he must be…talented”.
Yucky situation. If Ariana is remotely smart she will keep this very quiet and off social media. You want to be together? Fine. No one is celebrating it though. Nor should anyone. 🙄
I never got into Ariana because she’s a grown woman that dresses like a toddler, so I don’t know if this behavior is “like her” or not. But, this alone is gross. I really hope Lilly and son are near her parents/support system right now.
I agree re: the little girl aesthetic. I also don’t know how she has gotten away with cosplaying a vaguely Hispanic/Latine person for this long, and they can’t say it’s not intentional. Her last name is intentionally mispronounced specifically to push that narrative. Gross, indeed.
She’s Italian? I get what you’re saying as I also thought she was Latina when she first came out, but after she mentioned being Italian in multiple interviews, I immediately saw the Jersey Shore/Snooki-ness of it all. It fits.
Go back and look at her Nickelodeon days – girl is pretty light in the complexion area. Her last name is properly pronounced “Grandy”. I’m not the first person to bring up the racial and ethnic cosplay that she’s involved in. It’s a thing.
All strength to Lilly Jay in getting through this and moving. Imagine your partner of 10 years turning out to be a trash human who betrays you? Ariana and that Ethan person are just so selfish and pathetic. What a disgrace.
It was reported too that AG had spent time with the couple, too. Extra level disgust.
It doesn’t sound like Lilly knew she was “broken up.”
She found out the hard way. So gross.
If Lilly Jay doesn’t stand up! GIRL, STAND UP!!! Based on what I read of her she was punching down. She’s way too smart and successful and pretty to be crying over some cheating trash man. She needs to pull a Liberty Ross and find herself a billionaire.
All I know is I love Lilly Jay’s eyeglasses. I wish I could find frames like that. They look great. (ID anyone?) Back on topic, LJ is a beautiful young woman. I wish her well, far away from those who have hurt her.
Maybe these? https://www.warbyparker.com/eyeglasses/robbie/antique-silver
Thanks for looking @Suze – that is so sweet of you! These are close…bottom not quite as round, but nice. xx 🙂
Getting married after 5 months and then buggering off with a married guy – therapy quick!
Strength to you, Lilly Jay – you’ll look back on this one day and realise AG did you a favour.
Ariana is having her bit of fun and will likely move on in a year. This guy will realize he was just Mr. Right Now and he trashed his family unit to be a temporary sidepiece.
I hope this poor woman recovers from her heartbreak and finds success, happiness and joy.
That’s the worst part. This won’t last and all that will be left behind is a broken family. He’s an absolute trash bag and she’s not much better.
Ariana obviously is like a child who wants something just because someone else has it. So she gets the new toy, and she’ll play with it, break it , dump it, and giggle. She will once again have proved to herself that there is no man that she can’t have. She won’t care about the devastation she leaves behind.
Dude totally blew up his family and future to bang Ariana who will just move on to the next one. What a sleaze ball thinking with his d*ck instead of his baby.
Well said, Normades.
I looked up the 2nd last married guy that Miranda Lambert hooked up with and his wife took him back after all that which I cannot understand AT ALL.
Really??? I can’t imagine doing that, especially with it being so public.
“ Ariana and Ethan recently started dating. They have a lot in common and have a lot of fun…”
So basically, this guy was resentful of playing second fiddle to his infant and to his wife’s attention being on someone other than him.
What a loser.
I am mother of a 21 months old. It’s amazing but also utterly exhausting. I also work full time, not sure that is the case with LJ. But just here to say, working or not, that first year is so exhausting. Any partner who went into this pregnancy with open eyes and then leaves you alone to deal with it during that tough first year plus cheats on you is an absolute a….hole. Sorry just no nice way to put this. Even if he falls out of love or is frustrated, she is his best friend he says, you don’t do this even to a friend
Fina, you stated this beautifully. I had my first baby 18 years ago. The severe anemia and tiredness of the last months of pregnancy, the hormones, the first months of motherhood, getting back to work and being far away from my friends and family… this dickw&d apparently couldn’t be caring and supportive. And he didn’t have the minimum amount of decency to tell her, if this is true that she just found out. Ethan is awful, and both he and Ariana are cruel.
Ooh I am reading this at home bouncing a three month baby on my knee and if my husband EVER tried this nonsense %$(^&@$%^(@$!
SpongeBob is an absolute dbag. That is all.
Sorry, he looks about 12=years old and is really not at all good looking. This makes so little sense.
Both AG and SpongeBob are terrible here. The wife must be devastated but honey you can and will do better after you heal…. AG and the odd looking man will always be trash people period
Also keep going back to her denying a divorce and posting wedding photos in May…..not buying her and Dalton separated in January either I think Ariana PR team is trying to clean up as much as they can. I noticed Daltons team seems to be putting it out there that he never gave up on the marriage and did not start dating several months ago with her blessing like she would have you believe. Girlfriend is putting the M in messy.
Scooter Braun is re-writing history for her. I hope Dalton hits back and starts leaking his side of the story. Ariana was cryptically liking Instagram posts about toxic relationships trying to spin it against him for her fans 🙄
This girl doesn’t leave a relationship until she’s already in another one. And she dates down to guarantee she isn’t rejected. The new guy is trash, but she sets her sights on him on purpose. She knew he couldn’t resist the attention of a pop star. He threw it all away to give her ego a boost, but she’ll be bored again soon enough.
The donut licking was nasty but I could forgive it.
This shit though?
Ariana, you nasty.
PS also terrible taste in men, married or otherwise.
Excellent comment & I agree
Dude looks like a haunted ventriloquist’s dummy.
Lmaooooooo! Apt description!
Your very apt comment reminds me of the psychological horror movie, Magic, starring Anthony Hopkins as a ventriloquist. I still shudder when I think about it.
On top of the betrayal and heartbreak, she’s also facing having to share custody with him. He took her time with her child away from her for a fling that will probably last a couple of months.
That is so true. She has been a full time caregiver while he Jersey around acting and now she has to miss time with her kid
If sharing custody means having to hand your baby over to a psychological child and walk away, then…. Yuck doesn’t even cover it.
I hope he gives her full custody while he still thinks Ari wants to take him on a super duper fun yacht trip.
Oh god, I didn’t even think about that. Makes me hate that guy even more.
I mean Ariana has a whole song telling a dude she just met at a club he should “break up with his girlfriend because she’s bored and then they can hit it in the morn”. The entire song is about seeing a dude, thinking he’s hot, flirting with him and then getting him to break up with his girl. I always thought that song was too on the nose for her 🫤. She likes what she likes. I was shocked she got married becsuse she even has a whole lyric about “wanting to get married at least once just to see what it feels like”. That’s not someone super serious about commitment. 😬
Actually almost every song of her screams a*$hole. I was sad when this blog suddenly started to love her and I was like, why?
Eww. This guy also bears a striking resemblance to her brother, Frankie.
https://instagram.com/frankiejgrande
Wow Ari is really on a roll with these situations, and not in a great way. This is creating bad press to say the very least. Sounds like she is chasing that first feeling of early stage of relationship & bails when things get difficult.