In New York, Ethan Slater may be single again following the end of his high-profile romance with Ariana Grande, but his former marriage is apparently not receiving a Broadway revival. Rumors that the 34-year-old Wicked actor could reconcile with ex-wife Lilly Jay were firmly rejected by a source close to the clinical psychologist.
“Absolutely not,” the insider said when asked whether the former high school sweethearts were getting back together.
The source also claimed Slater was not attempting to revive the romance following his reported split from Grande. His relationship with Jay is now said to be “strictly about coparenting” the young son they welcomed shortly before their marriage collapsed publicly.
Slater and Jay were together for approximately 11 years and married for nearly five. Their separation became international celebrity news in 2023 when his relationship with Grande emerged shortly after both Wicked costars ended their respective marriages.
Jay did not hide how devastated she felt at the time.
“Not a girl’s girl,” she previously said of Grande while describing her family as “collateral damage.”
Fans Cannot Believe Lilly Jay Reunion Was Ever Considered
The blunt denial sparked a wave of reactions on X, where many users appeared more shocked that reconciliation rumors existed at all.
“The fact that people even thought this was a possibility is wild to me,” one person wrote. “Let the woman live in peace!”
Another argued that after everything Jay endured publicly, she was likely “way past looking backward.”
“As if she would even want him back after all that chaos,” someone else declared. “Some bridges are burned for good.”
Others mocked the endless speculation surrounding Slater’s personal life. One user joked, “So SpongeBob and his ex are not getting back together. Plot twist of 2026,” referencing his former Broadway role.
“The way people jump from ‘they share a kid’ straight to ‘they’re back together’ never fails to amaze me,” another commenter added.
Some praised the former couple for keeping their current relationship focused on their child rather than feeding the public drama.
“Respect to both of them,” one person wrote. “Co-parenting quietly is the move.”
The reunion chatter surfaced after Slater and Grande reportedly ended their nearly three-year romance earlier this year. Grande has since fueled separate speculation involving former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, although neither has formally announced a reconciliation.
Slater and Jay will remain connected through their son, but anyone expecting their marriage to receive a surprise second act just received an emphatic closing-night notice.
