Ariana Grande has made her relationship with Ricky Alvarez Instagram official, sharing a new set of intimate photos of the pair on Wednesday, August 12. The candid images arrive just weeks after Grande reignited speculation about a reconciliation with her former boyfriend through her Eternal Sunshine Tour and a series of references to him in “thank u, next.”
Grande’s latest Instagram post features Alvarez alongside her in relaxed, affectionate moments, offering fans a more direct glimpse at their relationship than the public sightings that fueled speculation throughout the summer. The post comes after weeks of growing attention around the former couple, who have been spotted together repeatedly since June.
The timing is particularly notable following Ariana Grande’s July 13 Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in Brooklyn, where she once again changed the lyrics to “thank u, next” to reference Alvarez. During the performance, she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back,” replacing the original lyric from her 2018 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit.
That was the third Ricky-themed variation Grande had performed during the tour. On June 24 in Austin, she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now they still kinda slap,” before changing the line two nights later to, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he still got my back.” Alvarez was also spotted in the VIP section at one of Ariana Grande’s Austin shows.
The speculation intensified after Grande and Alvarez were photographed celebrating her birthday with friends at Austin’s De Nada Cantina. While the gathering was initially described as a birthday celebration among longtime friends, their continued appearances together eventually pushed the reconciliation rumors into a different territory. The pair were later photographed taking a stroll through New York City’s Central Park, adding to the growing public interest in their relationship.
Grande and Alvarez first dated in the mid-2010s, when he was working as one of her backup dancers. Their relationship lasted roughly a year before ending in 2016, but the two remained on friendly terms after their breakup. Alvarez also became permanently linked to Grande’s music history when she named him in “thank u, next,” alongside other former partners.
Photos: Ariana Grande/Instagram
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