Ariana Grande isn’t rushing things with her ex-turned-current romantic interest.
As we’ve been following, the pop superstar is dipping her toe back into the dating pool after splitting from ex Ethan Slater earlier this year — with her ex Ricky Alvarez! The former backup dancer has been spotted at several of Ari’s Eternal Sunshine Tour shows, and the two even spent the Fourth of July together with her family! But if it seems like they’re on a speed run, think again. Because the pair are apparently “taking things very slowly.”
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On Tuesday, an insider spoke to People about Ariana and Ricky’s rekindled romance, making it clear that he’s ALWAYS been a friend and that the Hate That I Made You Love Me singer is finding it easy to fall for him once again:
“Ariana has always considered Ricky a friend. She’s not held ill will against him [since their split]. Ricky is dependable, trustworthy and very supportive. Ariana feels she can be herself around Ricky.”
That’s so sweet! The pair previously dated from 2015 to 2016, and Ricky even inspired some of Ari’s biggest hits in Into You and Moonlight. He even has a shoutout in Thank U, Next!
According to the source, the That Boy Is Mine singer loves how “funny” the photographer is:
“They have a similar, smart, dry sense of humor.”
No wonder they’ve remained friends for so many years! And now MORE once again!
The source went on to emphasize that while the exes may seem like a natural fit, they’re not thinking about “anything serious right away.”
“They’re not jumping into anything serious right away, but Ari is happy to have him back in her life.”
Cute!
Ariana is clearly VERY inspired by her romantic rekindling with Ricky as she’s made several Thank U, Next lyric tweaks having to do with him on tour. Most recently she changed them from:
“Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh”
To:
“Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back”
Ariana Grande changes the lyric to “thank u, next” for the third time at her ‘eternal sunshine’ tour in New York:
“Wrote some songs about Ricky, we always find our way back” pic.twitter.com/u57EFDXBzn
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 14, 2026
ADORBZ!
What are your reactions here, Perezcious readers? Do you ship these two? Is this just a summer fling or will they go the distance? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below!
[Images via Ariana Grande & Ricky Alvarez/Instagram]
