Ethan Slater Opens Up About Keeping His Son Out of the Spotlight While Dating Ariana Grande

he Broadway star, known for playing Boq and the Tin Man in Wicked: For Good, told The Downside With Gianmarco Soresi podcast that he avoids sharing stories about his child.

“I try not to tell stories about my son because I want to let him meet the world and let the world meet him on his own terms,” Slater said. “So I don’t tell stories or anecdotes.”

Slater did open up a little about special moments with his son, whom he shares with ex-wife Lilly Jay.

He reflected on celebrating Hanukkah together, saying, “I will just say that having that moment of lighting candles [on the menorah] with him and talking about what it means to be Jewish has been a really interesting experience. And so, I’m grateful for that in a sea of not being grateful for a lot of other things. I’ve been finding some hope in that.”

Slater and Jay finalized their divorce in September 2024, after splitting during the production of Wicked: For Good.

Jay has shared her thoughts on co-parenting, writing in The Cut, “While our partnership has changed, our parenthood has not. Both of us fiercely love our son 100 percent of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided.” She added that some days are joyful while others, especially tied to the promotion of the movie, can be difficult.

It’s clear that both Slater and Jay are focused on protecting their child from public exposure while still sharing important experiences together.

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