BROOKLYN, NY — Pop superstar Ariana Grande is once again letting her music and her stage presence do the talking. During the Brooklyn stop of her highly acclaimed Eternal Sunshine global tour on July 18, a familiar face in the crowd sent fans and media outlets into a frenzy. Ricky Alvarez, Grande’s former backup dancer and ex-boyfriend, was spotted in the audience, offering enthusiastic and highly visible support for the Grammy-winning artist.
The sighting comes on the heels of several weeks of intense fan speculation. Over the course of her summer tour dates, Grande has repeatedly altered the lyrics to her iconic 2018 hit "thank u, next"—a track that famously referenced Alvarez in its original recording. The combination of Alvarez’s front-row presence and Grande’s pointed lyrical modifications has fueled widespread rumors that the pair have rekindled their past romance, following Grande’s recent separation from her partner of nearly three years, Ethan Slater.
Chronology: A Summer of Subtle Hints and Lyric Changes
The speculation surrounding Grande and Alvarez did not emerge overnight; rather, it has been carefully pieced together by observant fans over several weeks of the Eternal Sunshine tour. Below is the chronological timeline of events that led to the viral Brooklyn concert sighting.
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| SUMMER TIMELINE |
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| June 26: First lyric change at tour stop ("they still really slap") |
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| July 7: Second lyric change ("know he's still got my back") |
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| July 13: Third, most explicit lyric change ("always find our way back")|
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| July 18: Ricky Alvarez attends Brooklyn concert in active support |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+June 26: The First Catalyst
The first major hint dropped during Grande’s tour stop on June 26. While performing "thank u, next," Grande deviated from the studio version’s original lyric regarding Alvarez: "Wrote some songs about Ricky / now I listen and laugh." Instead, she sang, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / they still really slap."
Social media footage captured Alvarez in the audience during this performance, sporting a subtle, knowing smile. The playful nod to their musical history immediately set off alarm bells within the fandom, though many initially dismissed it as amicable banter between exes.
July 7: Establishing Ongoing Support
Days later, during her July 7 concert, Grande altered the line once again. This time, she sang: "Wrote some songs about Ricky / know he’s still got my back."
This adjustment shifted the narrative from a simple appreciation of their past work to an explicit acknowledgement of Alvarez’s ongoing role as a supportive figure in her life. Fans quickly noted that the tone of these changes was becoming increasingly sentimental.
July 13: The "Way Back" Confirmation
The most definitive lyrical shift occurred during Grande’s July 13 concert. Performing the same segment of "thank u, next," the Wicked actress sang: "Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back."
The phrase "find our way back" is heavily associated with romantic reconciliation, and the performance went viral across TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), with millions of users analyzing the implications of the lyric.
July 18: The Brooklyn Concert Sighting
The culmination of this lyrical breadcrumb trail occurred on July 18 in Brooklyn. Alvarez, 35, was captured on fan cameras fully immersed in the concert experience. Wearing a casual blue flannel shirt and a black beanie, the professional choreographer was seen dancing enthusiastically to Grande’s 2024 track "imperfect for you" while waving his phone’s flashlight in the air.
Witnesses also documented Alvarez taking high-quality photos and videos of Grande throughout the night, acting as both an adoring spectator and a dedicated documentarian of her performance.
Supporting Data: The History of Ariana and Ricky
To understand the significance of these developments, one must look back at the history shared between Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez. Their professional and personal relationship dates back nearly a decade, making a potential reunion highly significant for longtime followers of the pop star.
The Honeymoon Tour Era (2015–2016)
Alvarez initially entered Grande’s orbit as a backup dancer. He was hired for her 2015 Honeymoon Tour, where their on-stage chemistry quickly translated into a real-world romance. The pair dated from the summer of 2015 until July 2016.
During their year together, Alvarez was a constant presence by Grande’s side, navigating the intense media spotlight that accompanied her rise to global superstardom. Notably, Alvarez was present during the infamous "donut-gate" incident in July 2015, demonstrating his position within her inner circle during periods of high public scrutiny.
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| ARIANA & RICKY: A TEN-YEAR TIMELINE |
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| 2015: Alvarez joins "Honeymoon Tour" as dancer; dating begins |
| 2016: The couple amicably splits after one year |
| 2018: Grande releases "thank u, next" featuring the original lyric |
| 2019: Brief reconciliation rumors spark after they are spotted in NY |
| 2024: Alvarez supports Grande on the "Eternal Sunshine" tour |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+The Post-Breakup Friendship and "thank u, next"
When the couple parted ways in the summer of 2016, sources close to the pair emphasized that the split was entirely amicable. Unlike some of Grande’s more turbulent relationships, her bond with Alvarez remained intact.
When Grande released her career-defining album Thank U, Next in late 2018, the title track served as an audit of her past relationships, referencing Big Sean, Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, and Alvarez. The original lyric—"Wrote some songs about Ricky / now I listen and laugh"—was widely interpreted not as an insult, but as a lighthearted reflection on young love.
At the time of the song’s release, Alvarez posted a humorous video of himself listening to the track on Instagram, to which Grande playfully responded, "I’m sorry you got the worst line… it was meant with nothing but love."
In the years that followed, Alvarez transitioned from dancing to professional photography and videography, occasionally collaborating with Grande on creative projects. They were spotted walking together in New York City in late 2019, which initially sparked reconciliation rumors that ultimately quieted down as both moved on to other relationships.
Official Responses and Public Statements
As is customary for Grande, neither she nor her representatives have issued a formal press release confirming a renewed romantic relationship with Alvarez. However, Grande has recently been candid about how she navigates public interest in her love life.
The Burden of Public Scrutiny
In a comprehensive interview published by The Hollywood Reporter in February 2025, Grande opened up about the emotional toll of having her personal life constantly dissected by the media and the public.
"It will never be unpainful," Grande admitted when asked about the persistent rumors surrounding her relationships. "But also, I walk with the awareness that I’m an artist and this is a path that I’ve chosen, and so I just try to protect myself so that I never start to resent the art."
This philosophy explains Grande’s preference for communicating through her music rather than official publicists. By altering her lyrics live on stage, she is able to reclaim her narrative on her own terms, turning what could be a sterile PR announcement into an intimate moment shared directly with her audience.
The Split from Ethan Slater
The context of Grande’s current single status is also crucial. The singer recently ended her relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. The bi-coastal romance, which began during the filming of the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, lasted for nearly three years before the two quietly decided to go their separate ways. The dissolution of that high-profile relationship cleared the path for Grande to reconnect with figures from her past, most notably Alvarez.
Implications: Reclaiming the Narrative in the ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Era
The potential reunion of Grande and Alvarez carries significant implications for her current artistic era. Eternal Sunshine, Grande’s seventh studio album, is deeply thematic, dealing with the concepts of memory, the pain of divorce, and the cyclical nature of love. The album was heavily inspired by the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which posits the question of whether it is better to erase the memories of a past love or to cherish them, despite the eventual pain.
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| THEMATIC PARALLELS IN HER WORK |
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| "imperfect for you" |
| - Theme: Embracing messy, historical, and flawed relationships. |
| - Significance: Alvarez was seen dancing to this specific track. |
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| "thank u, next" |
| - Theme: Gratitude for past lovers and personal growth. |
| - Significance: Altering the lyrics suggests a rewrite of her history. |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+The Significance of "imperfect for you"
It is highly symbolic that Alvarez was filmed dancing specifically to "imperfect for you." The song is widely considered the emotional centerpiece of the Eternal Sunshine album. Its lyrics speak to accepting a partner’s flaws and finding solace in a shared, albeit messy, history:
"How could we know we’d make the bad stuff delightful? / … I’ll hold your hurt in the box here beside me."
For Alvarez to be actively celebrating this specific song suggests a deep mutual understanding of the complexities of their shared past. It signals a mature relationship that has evolved past the initial heartbreak of their mid-twenties into something more resilient and grounded.
A New Chapter for the Global Tour
As Grande continues the global leg of her Eternal Sunshine tour, the narrative surrounding her personal life has shifted from one of transition and heartbreak to one of comfort, nostalgia, and reconciliation. By integrating Alvarez back into her touring life—whether purely as a supportive friend or as a partner—Grande is actively demonstrating the core message of her latest album: that love is not linear, and sometimes, the best way forward is to find your way back.
Ali Ikhwan
Reynand Wu
Laily UPN
