After her breakup, Ariana Grande reunites with a longtime ex

Ariana Grande Reunites with an Ex
A source shared some information with PEOPLE
Currently on tour
A song in his honor

Having recently become single again, Ariana Grande is back in the news after being spotted with one of her former lovers. According to a source close to the singer who spoke to PEOPLE, the 33-year-old artist reportedly spent the Fourth of July weekend in Florida with her family, as well as with Ricky Alvarez. The same source notes that Alvarez brought a lot of joy to Ariana, who is currently on her “Eternal Sunshine” tour.

The two stars are no strangers to each other. Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez, who was once one of her dancers, were in a romantic relationship between 2015 and 2016 before going their separate ways. Despite their breakup, they seem to have maintained a close bond over the years.

Fans of the singer will recall that Ricky Alvarez is mentioned in her massive 2018 hit, “Thank U, Next,” in which Ariana reflects on several of her past relationships. In the original song, she sings, “I wrote songs about Ricky / Now I listen to them and laugh.”

More recently, during a concert on her tour, the pop star surprised her audience by slightly altering those lyrics. She reportedly sang: “I wrote songs about Ricky / I know he's always there for me”—a change that didn't go unnoticed and quickly fueled speculation.

A few days earlier, she had already offered another version, saying: “I wrote songs about Ricky / And they're still just as effective.” This has fans wondering whether this closeness between the two exes simply hides a solid friendship… or the beginning of a new chapter?

To learn more about Ariana Grande's three-year relationship and the reason behind her recent breakup, keep reading.

(Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Kitty Purry, Inc.)

Her Breakup with Ethan Slater

It's worth noting that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater reportedly ended their relationship quietly several months ago, according to reports from TMZ. Sources close to the former couple have confirmed that the split was amicable and respectful, following a relationship that lasted about three years.

The two artists had grown close in 2022 on the set of the film Wicked. Ariana Grande plays the role of Glinda, while Ethan Slater plays Boq. It was during filming that their chemistry reportedly blossomed into a romance—a relationship that quickly made headlines and sparked numerous reactions in the media and among the singer's fans.