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Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are each handling their own divorces as their relationship with each other continues to build. A source spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the state of Grande and Slater's own romance as they work through their separations from their spouses. Slater filed for divorce last month from his wife Lilly Jay, who he dated for 10 years and with whom he welcomed his first child in August 2022.
Grande is still giving Slater “space” to figure out his way forward co-parenting with Jay, the source said: “[She's] trying to give Ethan some space as he figures everything out [but] their relationship is still progressing.” The source did not detail how exactly it was progressing, but the insider did address Slater's discussions with Jay.
“Ethan is trying to be as amicable as possible with Lilly as he navigates his next steps,” the source said. “He wants to be the best dad he can be, regardless of the current circumstances. He is taking things day by day and trying to keep his private life private, out of respect for everyone involved.”
As for Grande and her estranged husband Dalton Gomez, the source said that Grande wishes Gomez “the best. [He] is slowly trying to move on.”
Grande and Gomez were married for two years and started dating shortly before the COVID pandemic began. A source said that distance played a key role in why that relationship did not last. Gomez is a Los Angeles real estate agent while Grande is filming Wicked in the U.K.
A source told People in a report published on July 17, “She was happy in Los Angeles for a couple of years. She wanted to make a life there with Dalton. He is super focused on his career and needs to live in Los Angeles. It's definitely been an issue for them. Dalton's career is demanding and he can't leave Los Angeles often. So when [Grande] started filming Wicked in England, they were in for a long-distance marriage.” Though ultimately it “didn't work, Ari has nothing but kind words to say about Dalton. During their marriage, he was her No. 1 fan.”
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
