Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez were spotted getting cozy in Central Park as they rekindle their past romance.
The “We Can’t Be Friends” singer was pictured with her arm around Alvarez’s waist as they walked her dog, Toulouse, in the New York City park on Thursday, July 17, per photos published by TMZ. Grande’s former dancer had his arm around the star’s shoulder for the romantic stroll.
Grande, 33, dressed in all black for the occasion and had her hair tied up in a bun. Alvarez, 34, wore a black tank top, camouflage-colored pants and a blue baseball cap.
Us Weekly confirmed on Tuesday, July 14, that the Grammy winner and Alvarez are back on nearly 10 years after they first dated.
News broke in June that Grande had split from her Wicked costar Ethan Slater.
“They’ve always shared a close bond,” an insider exclusively told Us earlier this month. “There was a period in time where they weren’t close — while she was with Ethan — so she is happy to reconnect with him again.”
“Ariana is grateful to have him in her life right now, and he’s been a huge source of support,” the insider added.
Alvarez was a dancer on Grande’s Honeymoon Tour from 2014 to 2015. They later dated from 2015 to 2016.
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s private split was far from dramatic. “After their press tour [for Wicked: For Good] died down, they had been spending more time apart than usual,” a source exclusively shared with Us Weekly of what led to the demise of the pair’s relationship. “They both agreed they wanted different things and […]
Since then, Alvarez has gone on to become a successful photographer and music video director. He helmed Usher’s 2023 “Boyfriend” video starring Keke Palmer and has also worked with Becky G and Lil Wayne.
Grande famously referenced her past romance with Alvarez on her hit 2018 song “Thank U, Next,” singing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh.” (The song also references Grande’s exes Big Sean, Pete Davidson and Mac Miller.)
Amid her reunion with Alvarez, Grande has surprised fans with revised lyrics to the song during her ongoing Eternal Sunshine Tour.
On Monday, July 13, Grande sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back,” while performing at the Barclays Center in New York City.
Ariana Grande has been enjoying quality time with her ex-boyfriend Ricky Álvarez. Grande, 33, was seen leaving a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida, alongside Álvarez, 34, on Saturday, July 4, fueling reconciliation rumors. For their low-key outing, Grande kept it casual in a gray hoodie and light blue jeans in photos published by Page […]
During Grande’s June 26 show in Austin, Texas, the Oscar nominee serenaded fans with the tweaked line, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Know he still got my back.”
Grande previously opened up about Alvarez’s initial reaction to “Thank U, Next” during a 2019 interview on The Zach Sang Show.
“Ricky loved it. He was proud,” she said. “But Ricky was like, ‘Why did I get the worst line?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Everyone else’s line is so nice, and mine is like, ‘Man, f*** him, he’s trash.’ I was like I could have said that. “I could’ve said, ‘Wrote some songs about Ricky, never mind he’s trash.’ … But I didn’t. I said, ‘Now I listen and laugh.’”