Rumours are swirling that Ariana Grande may have reunited with an ex, with fans convinced former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez has re-entered the pop star’s life.
The speculation comes just weeks after reports that Grande and her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater had amicably ended their relationship earlier this year.
Grande and Slater were together for nearly three years, making it one of the singer’s longest public relationships. Their romance attracted intense scrutiny after they got together in 2023, with both separating from their respective spouses around the same time.
So, are Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez back together? At this stage, there’s no confirmation that the pair are romantically involved, but the signs are certainly intriguing.
The singer was recently spotted having lunch with Alvarez while in Austin, Texas, for her Eternal Sunshine Tour, immediately sending longtime fans into a frenzy.
The pair dated from 2015 to 2016 after meeting while Alvarez worked as one of Grande’s backup dancers, but have remained on good terms since their split. According to People, they’ve “been hanging out recently,” with the pair said to have stayed friends after their relationship ended.
Following her split from Alvarez, Grande went on to date Mac Miller, Pete Davidson, Dalton Gomez and, most recently, Ethan Slater.
Fuel was added to the fire during Grande’s Austin tour dates, where the singer tweaked a lyric in her hit song Thank U, Next.
The original lyric, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh,” has twice been replaced with new versions while performing in Austin. On one night, Grande sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still really slap,” before later changing it again to, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he’s still got my back.”
Adding even more intrigue, Alvarez was spotted in the VIP section during Grande’s birthday show, smiling as the lyric played out before him. Videos of the moment quickly spread across social media, further fuelling reconciliation rumours.
@alexisromo22 OMGGGGG im getting honeymoon tour flashbacks 🥹🥹💗 #arianagrande #eternalsunshinetour #eternalsunshine #arianator ♬ Everyday – Ariana Grande
That said, fans may want to pump the brakes before declaring a full-blown reunion. Grande has changed the lyrics to Thank U, Next before to reflect different chapters of her life, including a heartfelt tribute to her father during a previous live performance.
And while the recent sightings and lyrical nods certainly suggest the former couple remain close, multiple reports maintain there’s currently no confirmation that they’re anything more than good friends.
For now, it seems Ariana and Ricky are enjoying each other’s company again. Whether that’s the start of a second chance at romance or simply two exes who’ve stayed friends remains to be seen.
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