Ariana Grande has shared a photo with her on-again boyfriend Ricky Alvarez in a new Instagram album, days after announcing plans to temporarily withdraw from public life. The singer's social media update comes amid growing fan concern over her well-being, particularly following the release of her music video for "Petal."
In the recent Instagram post, Grande, 33, appeared in good spirits as she shared moments from her Eternal Sunshine Tour. One photograph showed Alvarez, a former backup dancer with whom she previously had a relationship in 2015 and 2016, with his arm around her. Although their faces were not fully visible in that particular shot, another image featured her clinging to him, with his face in the frame though the image was blurred.
Grande's announcement of a hiatus from public life came after her new music video for "Petal" drew significant online attention. Commentators noted her visibly thin figure in the video, leading to speculation about her health. Some online discussions drew comparisons to Karen Carpenter, a singer who died from anorexia. In response to the scrutiny, a representative for Grande confirmed she would be "taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour."
A family insider told the Daily Mail that Grande's close circle had urged her to take a break from her career. This hiatus includes her departure from a planned West End revival of "Sunday in the Park with George." Grande has stated that her respite was planned some time ago and that setting boundaries is necessary.
Further fueling speculation, Grande liked a social media post by psychotherapist Terri Cole discussing the importance of prioritizing one's health, with Cole's message stating that "not everyone will like the healthier version of you."
Grande had previously hinted at a renewed romance with Alvarez during a concert in July, altering a lyric in her song "Thank U, Next" from "Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh" to "We always find our way back." This occurred shortly after news broke of the end of her relationship with "Wicked" co-star Ethan Slater. Their relationship began in 2023 amid the filming of the "Wicked" movie adaptation and became public knowledge while Slater was married to his then-wife, Lilly Jay.
Grande's past relationships include a two-year relationship with rapper Mac Miller, her engagement to Pete Davidson, and a three-year marriage to Dalton Gomez.