Ariana Grande’s latest outing with ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez has fans talking, but the Austin hangout is not being described as a romantic reunion.
The singer was photographed with Alvarez at a restaurant in Austin, Texas, while she was in town for her Eternal Sunshine tour and birthday week. TMZ reported that Grande and Alvarez were seen together Thursday, June 25, one day before Grande turned 33.
The sighting came shortly after news broke that Grande and Wicked costar Ethan Slater had ended their relationship, which quickly pushed the Alvarez outing into rumor territory.
Sources familiar with the situation told TMZ that Alvarez was one of the friends Grande had with her in Austin for her birthday. The same sources said there was nothing romantic happening between the former couple.
Sources Said Alvarez Was Part of Grande’s Birthday Group
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TMZ reported that Grande had friends with her in Austin while touring, and Alvarez was included in that group. The two were photographed at a restaurant, but the outlet’s sources said the outing was not a rekindled romance.
InStyle reported that Grande and Alvarez were seen at De Nada Cantina in Austin. The photos spread online after fans had already been discussing Alvarez because of a lyric change Grande made during a recent performance of “Thank U, Next.”
Grande and Alvarez have stayed friendly in the years since they dated. In 2018, after fans speculated about another hangout, Elle reported that Grande responded in a comment, “We’re friends everyone take a big ol breather.”
The Sighting Followed a “Thank U, Next” Lyric Change
The Austin photos landed after Grande playfully changed the Alvarez line in “Thank U, Next” during her tour. Instead of the original lyric, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh,” InStyle reported that Grande sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still kinda slap.”
Grande did not publicly frame the lyric change as a relationship update. \.
Grande and Alvarez Dated During Her Honeymoon Tour Era
Alvarez was one of Grande’s backup dancers during her 2015 Honeymoon tour. The two dated from 2015 to 2016, and their relationship later became part of the public history around “Thank U, Next.”
InStyle noted that Alvarez also inspired “Moonlight,” from Grande’s Dangerous Woman album. In a 2016 Billboard cover story, Grande briefly addressed their relationship, saying she was happy and had a healthy life at the time.
The Outing Came After Her Ethan Slater Split
Grande’s outing with Alvarez came two weeks after People reported that she and Slater had quietly ended their relationship several months earlier after nearly three years of dating.
A source told People the split was amicable and said Grande and Slater “are still friends and very supportive of one another.” The source also said Grande has been focused on her Eternal Sunshine tour, which began June 6, and her upcoming album Petal, scheduled for release July 31.
Grande and Slater were first linked in July 2023 after meeting on the set of Wicked. They appeared together at multiple events connected to Wicked and Wicked: For Good before the breakup became public.
Grande Is Still in the Middle of a Major Music Run
The Alvarez sighting added a personal-history twist to Grande’s birthday week, but her current schedule remains centered on music. People reported that she is on her first tour since 2019 and preparing to release Petal at the end of July.