Grande, Alvarez Rekindle
Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez Rekindle Romance, Taking Things Slow After Public Sightings
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Key Points
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Grande and Alvarez were spotted at De Nada Cantina in Austin, Texas on June 25 as part of a birthday weekend gathering, with Alvarez accompanying Grande in a group setting.
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Alvarez has transitioned from dancer to photographer and music video director, notably helming Usher’s 2023 video for Boyfriend and collaborating with other artists such as Becky G and Lil Wayne.
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Grande’s ongoing lyrical nod to Ricky in her music has included updated lines during live shows; for example, a Brooklyn show on July 13 featured the line about Ricky, and there are reports that Alvarez approved and appreciated past references to him.
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Industry insiders note that Grande and Slater’s breakup occurred in June and happened long before it became public knowledge, indicating the end of that relationship preceded public awareness of her dating Alvarez again.
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Grande reportedly spent the Fourth of July weekend in Florida with her family and Alvarez while on tour, marking another public sign of their reconnection.
Ariana Grande and former backup dancer Ricky Alvarez are back together, and sources say it is "the real deal" — not a rebound, according to Us Weekly. The pair were spotted arm-in-arm in New York City's Central Park, walking Grande's dog Toulouse and showing cautious but clear affection nearly a decade after their first relationship ended.
The reunion follows Grande's split from Ethan Slater, which Us Weekly reports happened in June — well before the public found out. Grande and Alvarez originally dated from 2015 to 2016, when he danced on her Honeymoon Tour.
Sources Say They Are Taking Things Slowly
An insider close to Grande told Us Weekly that the couple is "far from a rebound" and is moving carefully. "They're not rushing into anything," the source said. Grande reportedly feels comfortable around Alvarez and is grateful to have him back in her life. The two were also seen together over Fourth of July weekend in Florida, where Grande was on tour with her family and Alvarez in tow.
They were first spotted together again on June 25 at De Nada Cantina in Austin, Texas, Us Weekly reported. That outing was part of a birthday weekend gathering, with Alvarez joining Grande in a group setting — a low-key but telling sign of their reconnection.
Ricky Alvarez Has Reinvented Himself Since 2016
Alvarez is no longer just a backup dancer. He has built a career as a photographer and music video director. His most notable recent credit is Usher's 2023 video for "Boyfriend." He has also worked with artists including Becky G and Lil Wayne, according to Us Weekly.
His career shift puts him in a creative space closer to Grande's world. Sources describe him as a trusted confidant, someone Grande has stayed close to even after their breakup years ago.
Grande Updated 'Thank U, Next' Lyrics to Name Ricky
Grande has quietly been nodding to Alvarez in her music for years. During her Eternal Sunshine Tour, she updated the lyrics to "Thank U, Next" to include the line: "Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back." She performed that updated version at a Brooklyn show on July 13, Us Weekly reported.
Sources say Alvarez approved of — and appreciated — the lyrical shoutout. The lyric change was not random. It was a deliberate, public acknowledgment of someone Grande has long held in high regard, even when they were not together.
Grande and Slater Split Before the Public Knew
Grande's relationship with Ethan Slater, her co-star from the "Wicked" film, ended in June — but the public only learned about it later, according to Us Weekly. That timeline matters. It means Grande did not jump straight from Slater to Alvarez. There was a gap, even if a quiet one.
Insiders are careful to frame this reunion as something organic, not reactive. Grande and Alvarez share history going back nearly 10 years. Their Central Park stroll, their Florida Fourth of July trip, and the lyric update all point to a reconnection that has been building for some time.
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