Ethan Slater's ex-wife Lilly Jay has opened up about their divorce and the difficulties she has been facing as her ex-husband is in a public relationship with Ariana Grande.

Clinical psychologist Jay penned an essay for The Cut titled "How Does My Divorce Make You Feel?" in which she discussed the sudden breakdown of her marriage soon after the birth of her first child. Her divorce proceeded "in the shadow of my husband's new relationship with a celebrity," she explained.

The relationship between Wicked co-stars Slater and Grande was made public in July 2023. Less than a year after Slater and Jay's split, the news arrived. Despite keeping their romance largely under wraps, Grande and Slater's relationship has garnered media attention.

Jay described how she dealt with the heartache, spending endless hours taking care of her child and coming to terms with the abrupt, well-publicized dissolution of her marriage. Despite losing the life she had planned with her high school sweetheart, she spoke of rediscovering strength and optimism for the future, stating that she now thinks her and her kid would have "a lifetime of sweetness" ahead of them.

Jay reflected on the challenges, saying that while she enjoys the days she spends with her kid, she becomes depressed when she sees advertisements for Wicked, a film that is connected to the darkest time in her life. She also discussed the emotional gulf that grew between her and Slater when Wicked was being filmed in the UK.

As a perinatal psychologist, Jay admitted that she understood the difficulties faced by new parents, including the pressure that postpartum stress can have on a marriage and the need of social support. Unaware of the widening gap, she nevertheless relocated to a different nation with her infant in order to support Slater's profession.

Jay believes that by sharing her story in her article, others who are facing comparable difficulties may find support.