Sophia Michaels
Lilly Jay says her family is “collateral damage” as news broke of her estranged husband Ethan Slater’s budding romance with his “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande.
“[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl,” Jay exclusively tells Page Six. “My family is just collateral damage.”
The musician, who shares one son with the “SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!” star, said she’s focusing on raising her and Slater’s baby and being “a good mom.”
“The story is her and Dalton,” Jay added, referencing Grande’s split from her husband, Dalton Gomez, to whom she had been married for two years.
However, sources tell Page Six that Jay has been “calling every news outlet to get this story out” while acting differently toward Slater behind-the-scenes.
“She’s telling Ethan and others that she only cares about protecting their child,” our source shares.
“She’s rightfully upset because her marriage fell apart, but Ariana and Ethan didn’t do anything wrong,” our insider adds, telling us that Slater had been separated from Jay for two months before romancing Grande.
“Ethan is trying to take the high road and hopes he can resolve this situation for the sake of their child.”
Reps for Gomez, Grande and Slater didn’t return Page Six’s numerous requests for comment.
Slater, 31, filed for divorce from Jay in a New York court Wednesday after nearly four years of marriage.
The reason listed for the dissolution was not immediately clear.
The Tony Award nominee’s decision to cut ties from Jay came about a week after his relationship with the “Thank U, Next” singer was exposed.
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Page Six confirmed that Grande, 30, and Slater began dating months ago after the two already had separated from their spouses.
An insider also told us that Grande and Gomez remained amicable despite parting ways.
“They’ve been really good friends throughout the entire process, and their friends and families have been trying to protect them,” our source shared, adding that Gomez even once flew out to London, where “Wicked” was filming, in a last-ditch effort to make the marriage work.
A photo of the the “Wicked” cast celebrating Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar win in March, which went viral in recent days as a result of the bombshell news, showed the Broadway star sitting with his arm wrapped around Grande.
Separate sources later told Page Six that Jay was “blindsided” by his relationship with Grande.
“It’s horrible. They were high school sweethearts. They have a baby! She’s a wreck,” they told us.
The insider added that they believe the “Positions” singer is the reason for Jay and the Broadway star’s split, as they “suddenly” broke up when “nothing appeared wrong between them.”
