Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
In 2019, Ariana Grande reflected on her past relationships with her hit single “Thank U Next,” and now she’s adding some pointed lyric changes. For her first Eternal Sunshine tour stop in Austin, Texas, on June 24, Grande changed the lyric from “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh” to “Now they still kinda slap.” Some fans assumed Grande was just hinting that she would be singing a song about Ricky Alvarez, her ex from 2015-2016. But soon, she was seen getting lunch with Alvarez in Texas. A source told People the two have “been hanging out recently,” which is evident by getting lunch. Grande then switched another lyric change to “I know he still got my back” at the June 26 show. Alvarez shook Grande’s father’s hand after she sang the lyric.
Does this mean Grande’s dating Alvarez again, or is she’s just reconnecting with an old friend? She’s shut down dating rumors before, like in 2018 when she had a playful back-and-forth with him on Instagram. “We’re friends, everyone take a big ol breather,” she wrote in response to a fan asking about them. Maybe a nice deep breath is advice to take again — she just got out of a three-year relationship with Ethan Slater and began a global tour. She can say thank you, but doesn’t need to move on to the next just yet. But if she did want to confirm a relationship with him, at least we know where to look.
Sign up for the Vulture Daily
An entertainment newsletter for the pop-culture obsessed.
Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice
Related