Ariana Grande romantically reunited with her former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez nearly 10 years after they initially went their separate ways.
Us Weekly confirmed in July 2026 that Grande and Alvarez rekindled their past romance on the heels of the Oscar nominee’s recent breakup from Wicked costar Ethan Slater.
“They’ve always shared a close bond,” a source exclusively told Us earlier that 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.”
Long before Grande dated Slater or now-ex-husband Dalton Gomez, Grande was linked to her former dancer Alvarez.
Scroll below to meet Alvarez:
When Did Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez Date?
Grande dated Alvarez from 2015 to 2016.
“We’re happy,” Grande coyly told Billboard in 2016, addressing her relationship status with Alvarez. “I’m a very happy girl. I have a healthy life right now, and I think that’s all anyone cares to know. The end.”
What Is Ricky Alvarez’s Career?
Alvarez is a professional photographer who often shares his portraits via social media.
“Ricky Alvarez is a Mexican-American artist from San Diego, CA, now based in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up, Alvarez had a diverse background in athletics and art—which eventually led him to a successful career as a professional dancer,” a website bio reads. “He eventually departed the professional dance world to pursue photography full-time. And now, having the combination of movement and photo combines the perfect blend for directing. His career came full-circle when the artists he once danced for also co-signed him as a visual tastemaker, hiring him to execute his artistry as a photographer and director. Alvarez’s work seeks to represent life’s contrasts, disruptions of form, fashion, identity, and his own cultural upbringing.
He even served as one of Grande’s backup dancers on her Honeymoon Tour, which ran from 2014 to 2015.
‘Thank U, Next’ Mention
Alvarez was among Grande’s then-exes to be name-dropped in her 2019 single, alongside the likes of Big Sean, Pete Davidson and the late Mac Miller.
“Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh,” she sings about Alvarez.
According to the pop star, Alvarez approved of the lyrical shout-out.
“Ricky loved it. He was proud. But Ricky was like, ‘Why did I get the worst line?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’” Grande said on the Zach Sang Show in 2019. “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’ ‘cause it didn’t work out.”
Ariana Grande Tweaks ‘Thank U, Next’ Lyrics Amid Ricky Alvarez Reunion
Alvarez attended Grande’s June 2026 Eternal Sunshine concert in Austin, Texas, during which his then-ex swapped his “Thank U, Next” line.
“Wrote some songs about Ricky, now he still got my back,” she sang during the live show, where fans spotted Alvarez grinning.
Weeks later, Grande gave Alvarez another shout-out during her Brooklyn, New York, gig.
“Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back,” she belted.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usmagazine.com ’
