Overview
- Grande altered the lyric to her 2019 hit “Thank U, Next” during her June 25 tour stop to reference Ricky Alvarez in a new line, which fans noticed and discussed online.
- Paparazzi and fan-account photos circulated showing Grande and Alvarez sharing a meal in Austin on June 26, the city where she played and celebrated her 33rd birthday.
- Multiple outlets report that unnamed sources told TMZ the meeting was friendly and not romantic, and that Grande had invited friends to Austin for the birthday and show.
- Reporting notes the pair dated around 2015–2016, that Alvarez was a backup dancer on Grande’s 2015 Honeymoon tour, and that she name-checked him in “Thank U, Next,” which explains why the sighting drew attention.
- Grande’s breakup from Ethan Slater was reported earlier this month as a months-old, amicable split and she remains focused on the Eternal Sunshine tour and her upcoming album Petal.