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Ariana Grande sparks romance rumours with ex Ricky Álvarez
28th July, 2026 11:38 AM
Hollywood star and Singer Ariana Grande has fuelled speculation that she is back together with her former boyfriend Ricky Álvarez after sharing a subtle moment featuring the two on her social media.
The 33-year-old singer appeared to give fans a glimpse into her renewed relationship with her former backup dancer in an Instagram post shared on Sunday, July 27, as she continues preparing for the release of her eighth studio album, Petal.
Fans notice a subtle appearance
Grande shared a carousel of photos and videos capturing recent moments from her life. Among them was a short clip showing her clinking olives with Álvarez, a detail that quickly caught the attention of fans.
She captioned the post: “Petal season continued …. !” Ariana Grande wrote.
Although neither Grande nor Álvarez has publicly confirmed they are dating again, the post has added to growing rumours that the pair have rekindled their romance after previously dating between 2015 and 2016.
Tour performances raised more questions
The latest post comes after fans noticed that Grande had been changing the lyrics of her hit song thank u, next during her Eternal Sunshine tour. The original lyric, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh,” has been replaced with different versions during several performances.
During her June 24 show in Austin, Texas, she sang, “And they still really slap,” Ariana Grande said. Two days later, during her birthday concert in the same city, she changed the lyric again, singing, “I know he still got my back,” Ariana Grande said.
At her July 13 show in Brooklyn, New York, she offered yet another version. “We always find our way back,” Ariana Grande sang.
The repeated lyric changes led many fans to believe there could be more than friendship between the two.
Ricky has been supporting her
Álvarez has also been spotted at several of Grande’s tour dates, where he has been seen supporting the singer from the audience. He has also spent time with Grande’s parents, Edward Butera and Joan Grande, during one of the concerts, adding to speculation that the pair have grown close again.
Despite the public interest, Grande has continued to keep her personal life largely private.
Singer speaks on dealing with rumours
Although she has not addressed the latest dating rumours directly, Grande previously spoke about the challenges of constantly reading stories about her personal life.
“It’ll never be unpainful. 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,” Ariana Grande told The Hollywood Reporter in February 2025.
For now, neither Grande nor Álvarez has confirmed whether they are officially back together. However, the singer’s recent social media post, together with her tour lyric changes and Álvarez’s continued presence at her concerts, has kept fans guessing about the nature of their relationship.
