Lilly Jay, the ex-wife of Ethan Slater, has opened up about her experience following the couple’s divorce and Ethan’s new relationship with Ariana Grande, his Wicked co-star. This comes after Ethan filed for divorce just days after his romance with Ariana became public.

In a candid op-ed for The Cut, Lilly expressed her shock at the end of her marriage, especially after giving birth to their first child. She admitted that she never expected to go through a divorce, particularly in the midst of such a public situation. She shared how difficult it was to deal with the promotion of Wicked, a movie now linked to some of the saddest moments of her life.

Lilly described her days with their son as bright, but it was hard for her to escape the pain tied to the media attention surrounding Ethan’s relationship with Ariana. Despite the personal pain, she expressed support for Ariana, saying, “I am so proud of Ariana… I’m so happy people are getting to know him [Ethan], my heart is very happy.”

Lilly also reflected on the months leading up to their divorce. When their son was just two months old, the family moved to London so Ethan could film Wicked. Lilly explained that she didn’t understand the growing distance between them at the time. Ariana, on the other hand, defended Ethan amid rumors of an affair, saying that the public’s perception of him was far from accurate.

Today, Lilly says she and Ethan have reached a place of peaceful co-parenting. She emphasized that both she and Ethan “fiercely love our son 100% of the time,” putting their child’s well-being first.

Lilly’s heartfelt words offer insight into her journey through this challenging period and the complex emotions involved in moving forward while co-parenting.