Ariana Grande hints she's already moved on from Ethan Slater - with ex Ricky Alvarez
Ariana Grande hints she's already moved on from Ethan Slater - with ex Ricky Alvarez
Chiara Fiorillo Tue, July 14, 2026 at 9:55 AM UTC
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Ariana Grande hinted she has moved on after her recent split (Image: Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Ariana Grande hinted she has moved on from Ethan Slater - and might have rekindled with one of her exes.
The singer, 33, has sparked reunion rumors with her ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez after changing the lyrics to her 2018 single Thank U, Next, during her opening night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, on Monday, July 13.
On the original track, Ariana referenced her year-long romance with Ricky, 34, while mentioning several of her exes.
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The lyrics say, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh."
However, during her performance last night, the crowd erupted with cheers as Ariana sang, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back."
Ariana Grande and her ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez have sparked reunion rumors (Image: John Shearer/Getty Images for Kitty Purry, Inc.)
It was the third time on her Eternal Sunshine tour that Ariana changed the lyrics when mentioning Ricky.
During her show in Austin, Texas, on June 26, the Wicked star also changed the lyrics as she sang, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Know he still got my back."
The two initially met when Ricky joined her Honeymoon Tour crew in 2015, which led to a romantic relationship that lasted until July 2016.
After their split, they never had a public feud - and rumors of a reunion started spreading after Ariana split from her Wicked co-star Ethan, 34, as Ricky was seen celebrating her 33rd birthday with her in Texas, spending the Fourth of July weekend with her family in Florida, and hanging out in VIP sections with her parents at her concert stops.
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Ariana and Ethan, who first connected on set in 2023, split several months ago after dating for nearly three years.
Following the latest lyrics change, fans are convinced that Ariana and Ricky are now back together.
"She really updates thank u, next like it's iOS. Ricky version 3.0 installed," one joked on X.
Another said, "are they together and she's soft launching it !!!!"
A third tweeted, "Thank you next, then she's giving hints of going back to ex, nah."
Ariana and Ethan Slater starred in Wicked together (Image: Getty Images for National Board of Review)
"From someone who's been here for a while, i'm so confused if she means always come back as friends or they're actually back together," someone else wondered.
Last week, after the pair were seen at a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida, over the July 4 holiday weekend, a source told US Weekly that Ariana and Ricky have "always shared a close bond."
The insider said, "There was a period in time where they weren't close - while she was with Ethan - so she is happy to reconnect with him again."
Ariana and Ricky haven't officially confirmed whether they are in a relationship again.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
