News | Entertainment
31 Jan 2026 14:38
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Ethan Slater has settled his divorce from Lilly Jay

    The Broadway actor - who is now dating Ariana Grande - split from his high school sweetheart in summer 2023 amid claims he had grown close to his 'Wicked' co-star, and the pair have now agreed the terms of their split and had their divorce signed off by a judge, TMZ reports.


    It is unclear how the former couple have agreed to split their assets or custody of their two-year-old son.

    The 32-year-old actor and Ariana went public with their romance last October, three months after they split.

    After Ethan filed for divorce last July, Lilly hit out at the 'Thank U, Next' hitmaker - whose marriage to Dalton Gomez also ended in 2023 - and said her family had been "collateral damage".

    She told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column: "[Ariana's] the story really. Not a girl's girl.

    "My family is just collateral damage.

    "The story is her and Dalton [Gomez, Ariana's estranged husband]."

    Earlier this year, Ariana voiced her frustration over the speculation surrounding her relationship.

    Addressing the conversation around her personal life, she told 'The Zach Sang Show': "I feel like we don't need to go into any specifics.

    "But of course, there's an insatiable frustration, inexplicable, hellish feeling with watching people misunderstand the people you love, and you and anything."

    Ariana previously described 2023 as one of the "most challenging" years of her life.

    She wrote on Instagram: "one of the most transformative, most challenging, and yet happiest and most special years of my life. there were so many beautiful and yet polarized feelings.

    "i've never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me. i've never felt more fulfilled by or present in my work, being able to cherish every moment. i gave everything i could have possibly given of my heart and of myself to the projects i was fortunate enough to be a part of and learned so much from every brilliant, beautiful, soul that i had the privilege of creating art with and crossing paths with this year.

    "i have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don't know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life. i have learned how much more important one of those things is than the other. (sic)"

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     31 Jan: Ricky Gervais' long-term partner Jane Fallon has no regrets about not having children
     31 Jan: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have taken their $68 million home off the market
     31 Jan: Terry Crews' daughter Azriél was "hit on by a creepy actor" when she was just 16 years old
     31 Jan: Margot Robbie thinks Jacob Elordi would be a "very good boyfriend" for someone after he did "a lot of very thoughtful things" on the Wuthering Heights set
     31 Jan: Catherine O'Hara from Home Alone and Schitt's Creek dies aged 71
     31 Jan: Katie Price has never met her new mother-in-law
     31 Jan: Victoria Beckham thanked her family for "always believing in my vision" as she received a prestigious French arts honour
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Black Ferns' sevens team want to keep their perfect record at the Singapore World Series event going when it starts this afternoon More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    3 things to know about Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nod for Fed chair More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Ricky Gervais' long-term partner Jane Fallon has no regrets about not having children 14:31

    Business:
    3 things to know about Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nod for Fed chair 14:06

    Law and Order:
    Another protest being held at the same time by Toitu Te Aroha has marched up Queen Street and reached Myers Park 14:06

    Entertainment:
    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have taken their $68 million home off the market 14:01

    Christchurch:
    One lane on State Highway 7 in Canterbury is blocked, following a two-vehicle crash 13:46

    Rugby:
    The Black Ferns' sevens team want to keep their perfect record at the Singapore World Series event going when it starts this afternoon 13:36

    Golf:
    Lydia Ko is relishing back to back bogey-free rounds to start 2026 13:36

    Entertainment:
    Terry Crews' daughter Azriél was "hit on by a creepy actor" when she was just 16 years old 13:31

    Athletics:
    A personal best for kiwi pole vaulter Imogen Ayris at a World Athletics indoor meet in France 13:26

    Accident and Emergency:
    Fire and Emergency says its specialist Search and Rescue teams are standing down their operations in Mount Maunganui 13:06


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd