Ethan Slater's divorce deal 'silenced' ex Lilly Jay from speaking about Ariana Grande betrayal
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are reportedly feeling a sense of relief after Slater's ex-wife, Lilly Jay, chose to keep her essay for The Cut measured and dignified.
Despite her divorce from Slater — and the swirling rumors of an affair with Ariana — Jay refrained from explicitly dragging the couple, instead opting for subtlety and self-reflection in her words.
Clinical psychologist Lilly Jay opens up about divorce
The clinical psychologist’s essay, published last week in The Cut’s One Great Story newsletter, reflected on the emotional toll of her high-profile divorce, Perez Hilton reported.
While she didn’t directly address the rumors about Slater and Ariana, Jay made it clear she was blindsided by Slater's decision to leave shortly after the birth of their son.
Reportedly, fans were quick to connect the dots, particularly regarding the suspicious timeline of Slater and Ariana’s romance, which became public just days after Ariana’s split from Dalton Gomez was announced.
Yet, Slater and Grande are “relieved” Jay didn’t go into explicit detail about their relationship.
Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande 'relieved Lilly didn’t throw them under the bus'
A source told Daily Mail that the couple is grateful Jay handled the situation with restraint.
“They’re relieved that Lilly didn’t throw them under the bus,” the insider revealed.
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The insider added, “Ethan and Ariana are fully aware of what happened, as is everyone who was around at the time. [Lilly] made it clear that she moved to London with him, and the timeline from that point forward speaks for itself.”
Though Slater and Grande have denied any cheating allegations, the rapid transition from Slater's marriage to his new romance with Grande has raised eyebrows.
The real reaosn why Lilly Jay held back
According to the insider, Jay was restricted from sharing specific details about the timeline of events due to the terms of her divorce agreement.
The source explained, “During the legal proceedings, Jay was essentially silenced, unable to speak freely. Despite the circumstances, she came out of the divorce a winner.”
While she couldn’t disclose certain details, Jay still managed to express her emotions and shed light on the ordeal.
The essay resonated with readers, reminding many of the heartbreaking circumstances surrounding her split.
Jay's essay included a poetic “sponge” analogy that some interpreted as a subtle dig at Slater, who famously played SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway.
She wrote, “You know how a sponge is most effective at absorbing liquid when it’s already a bit wet? Maybe we can think about my messy not-so-personal life in that way: a dose of my own loss, rage, powerlessness, sadness that helps me hold yours.”
The source acknowledged the veiled reference, calling it “a subtle jab at the situation,” but praised Jay for her approach.
“She knows that one day her son will read about this online, and she wanted him to read that her first and only words on this were done so in a respectful and classy manner," they said.
Jay's decision to wait until she was ready to speak publicly has also been commended.
According to the insider, “Though she was approached by nearly every media outlet, Jay didn’t want to give an interview until she was ready. She wanted to control her own narrative and tell her story on her terms. And she did just that.”
