Are Ariana Grande & Ricky Alvarez Back Together? The Latest Updates
In June, it was confirmed that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater had ended their relationship earlier this year. The two met on the set of Wicked and were together for about three years before the quiet breakup. Shortly following news of the split, Grande was spotted hanging out with one of her exes: Ricky Alvarez.
But are Grande and Alvarez back together? Or have they simply reconnected as friends? Scroll down for the evidence we have about their possibly rekindled romance.
Are Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez back together?
While Grande and Alvarez have not confirmed their current relationship status, the evidence that they may have reconciled is mounting. It started in June when Grande changed the “Thank U, Next” lyrics about her ex in two different concerts.
The original lyrics are, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh.” At one Eternal Sunshine tour stop, she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now they still kinda slap,” and at another, she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, I know he’s still got my back.”
On June 26, a fan spotted them hanging out together before her show, and he was at the concert that night. People also reported, “They’ve been hanging out recently.” Then, they were photographed grocery shopping on the Fourth of July before heading to her parents house for the holiday, per TMZ.
Who is Ricky Alvarez?
Alvarez is a dancer and choreographer. He was Grande’s backup dancer in 2014 and even joined her on tour the following year. They started dating in 2015.
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Additionally, Alvarez is also a photographer and shares his work on AllThingsMean.com. He even worked as a photographer and videographer on Grande’s 2019 tour, three years after their breakup.
Why happened between Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez?
Grande and Alvarez’s relationship was first rumored when they kissed on stage during her June 2015 performance at the Pride Parade in New York City. At the time, many speculated that the kiss was just part of the choreography, but when they were seen packing on the PDA just a few days later on July 4, the relationship was confirmed.
The former couple split in July 2016. “She broke up with him,” E! reported. “He didn’t cheat or anything, they just found it difficult to make it work. They are still friends though.”
But the exes stayed friendly after the breakup. When she released “Thank U, Next” in 2018, he posted a video of himself listening to the lyrics that mention him, captioning it, ““Nothing but gratitude. Thank you, next… (those songs are fire tho… you’re welcome).”
Grande reposted the message and wrote, “HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH IM SORRY U GOT THE WORST LINE. It was meant v lovingly.” Subsequent social media back and forth had fans wondering if the two had gotten back together, but Alvarez assured them, “We’re friends everyone take a big ol breather.”
