Ariana Grande And Ricky Alvarez's Story, From Breaking Up 10 Years Ago To Finding Each Other Again
Ariana Grande once apologized to Ricky Alvarez for giving him the 'worst line' in 'Thank U, Next.' Now, the exes are inseparable, with the singer giving him multiple lyric updates along the way.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleIt has been almost a decade since Ariana Grande ended things with her former backup dancer, Ricky Alvarez. The pair, who first dated in 2015 after meeting on Grande's Honeymoon Tour, returned to the headlines once again, with speculation that they may be giving romance another chance after being spotted together multiple times in recent weeks.
Fueling the buzz even further, Grande has been changing one of the most talked-about lyrics in her 2018 hit Thank U, Next, the very song where she once joked that Alvarez got the "worst line." What started as a playful breakup reference has now evolved into a heartfelt nod to a bond that never truly ended.
Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez's romance began on tour
Ricky Alvarez first entered Grande's life as one of her backup dancers during the Honeymoon Tour between 2014 and 2015. The professional relationship soon turned personal, with the pair beginning to date around April 2015.
The couple was first linked when Ariana made it to the headlines with her doughnut-gate scandal, and following this, the couple's kissing video also surfaced. Sources revealed that the singer was happier than ever, and she and Ricky had gotten extremely close to each other and were trying to keep their relationship private.
However, after a year, the duo broke up. Speaking about the reason for their breakup, there had been several speculations around, including cheating; however, sources confirmed that the couple didn't part ways because of any kind of cheating, as there was none. An insider said at that time:
"She broke up with him. He didn't cheat or anything; they just found it difficult to make it work. They are still friends though."
Over the years, Alvarez has shifted much of his focus to photography while continuing to work in the entertainment industry. Despite largely staying away from the spotlight, he has remained one of Grande's closest confidants.
The "worst line" that turned into an apology
Alvarez unexpectedly became part of pop culture history when Grande released Thank U, Next in 2018. The lyric, "Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh," quickly became one of the song's most memorable moments. However, Grande later admitted she felt bad about giving him what many fans called the "worst line" in the song.
After Thank U, Next was released, Alvarez responded with humor. He shared a video on his Instagram Story of himself listening to the song, dramatically zooming in on his face as Grande sang the lyric about him. He later followed it with a heartfelt message that read, "Nothing but gratitude," alongside a black heart emoji, before joking, "Thank you, next… (those songs are fire tho… you're welcome)."
Grande reposted his Story and responded with an apology of her own. "Oh for sure… ty next," she wrote before adding, "HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH I'M SORRY U GOT THE WORST LINE. It was meant v lovingly." The playful exchange showed there was no bad blood between the former couple.
Despite ending their relationship in 2016, Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez have remained close friends over the years. In June 2026, they sparked reconciliation rumors after they were spotted having lunch with a group at De Nada Cantina in Austin, Texas. Restaurant owner Stephen Shallcross told the Austin American-Statesman that Grande was warm and friendly, happily interacting with staff and posing for selfies with fans.
The outing came shortly after Grande surprised fans by changing a lyric in "Thank U, Next" during her Eternal Sunshine Tour. Instead of the original, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh," she sang, "And they still kinda slap." She continued updating the lyric at later shows, singing, "I know he's still got my back," before delivering the most talked-about version during her July 13, 2026 concert at Brooklyn's Barclays Center:
"Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back."
Are Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez back together?
The repeated lyric changes, coupled with the pair's recent outings following Grande's split from Ethan Slater, have fueled speculation that they're rekindling their romance. At one Texas concert, Alvarez was in the audience, smiling, turning toward Grande, and sharing a proud, playful reaction when Grande sang the revised lyric.
Despite the mounting speculation, neither Grande nor Alvarez has publicly confirmed they are dating again. Sources close to the pair say they are "taking things very slowly" and aren't rushing into anything serious. Instead, they are simply enjoying reconnecting after years of remaining close friends.
Do you think the insider accounts about Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez are true?
Photo credit: Ricky Alvarez/Instagram, X photos
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