Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez are taking things slowly
Ariana Grande and former backup dancer Ricky Alvarez are reuniting romantically but “taking things very slowly,” a source exclusively told People. The pop star, 33, and Alvarez, 35, are not jumping into anything serious right away, though Grande is happy to have him back in her life after their 2015–2016 relationship.
Key Takeaways
- A People source says Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez are “taking things very slowly” amid their romance reunion.
- The pair dated from 2015 to 2016; Grande still sees Alvarez as dependable, trustworthy and supportive.
- They spent Fourth of July weekend together in Florida and were later photographed cozying up in Central Park.
- Grande has softened “Thank U, Next” lyrics about Ricky on her Eternal Sunshine tour, including on his birthday.
- Ethan Slater learned of the reunion through mutual friends, not from Grande directly, per a Daily Mail source via Yahoo.
Why are Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez taking things slowly?
According to a source who spoke exclusively to People, Grande and Alvarez are rekindling their romance at a measured pace. “They’re not jumping into anything serious right away, but Ari is happy to have him back in her life,” the source said.
“Ariana has always considered Ricky a friend,” the insider added. “She’s not held ill will against him [since their split]. Ricky is dependable, trustworthy and very supportive. Ariana feels she can be herself around Ricky.”
The same source said Grande loves how “funny” Alvarez is and that they share a “similar, smart, dry sense of humor.” For fans tracking celebrity culture alongside broader buzz coverage on BlasterPost’s Fintech & Crypto Alerts desk, the takeaway is clear: this reunion is real, but deliberately unhurried.
How did their romance reunion become public?
On July 7, a Grande source told People that Alvarez spent the Fourth of July weekend in Florida with the singer and her family. That source described Ricky as a “friend and confidant,” saying Grande “really trusts him,” enjoys his “great, positive energy,” and likes that he makes her laugh.
TMZ later published photos from Thursday showing the couple strolling through Central Park with their arms around each other. Ricky’s arm was draped over Ari’s shoulder while she walked a dog that appeared to be her pup, Toulouse. TMZ also noted he was previously snapped with her on tour in Texas and that the pair picked up food from a Florida Whole Foods over the holiday.
Onstage, Grande has altered the “Thank U, Next” line that once joked about writing songs about Ricky. At her July 13 Barclays Center show in Brooklyn—also Alvarez’s birthday—she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.”
What does Ethan Slater know about Ariana Grande dating Ricky?
Grande and Wicked co-star Ethan Slater privately split several months ago, with sources describing the breakup as amicable and without “bad blood.” A Daily Mail source, reported by Yahoo, said Grande did not tell Slater she was dating Alvarez again; mutual friends informed him.
That insider claimed the pair “never crossed the line while she was with Ethan,” and that Grande gradually reconnected with Alvarez—first through mutual friends, then alone—as her relationship with Slater was ending. Ricky, the source added, is “very happy being back in her life” and wants this second chance to work.
Grande is nearly halfway through her 41-date Eternal Sunshine tour, with her eighth album, Petal, due later this month. A representative for Grande did not immediately respond to People’s request for comment on the lyric change.