Pop singer Ariana Grande's ex-boyfriend, Ricky Alvarez, made a surprise appearance at her Eternal Sunshine concert in Austin, Texas, on Friday, coinciding with Grande's 33rd birthday. During the performance, Grande modified the lyrics of her 2019 hit "thank you, next." The original lines, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh," were changed to "… they still kinda slap" and "…he still got my back."
Alvarez was observed in the VIP section alongside Grande's father, Ed Butera, who reportedly offered him a congratulatory handshake. Backup dancers presented Grande with a birthday cake on stage during the performance. Sources indicate that despite Grande's recent amicable split from "Wicked" co-star Ethan Slater, there is "nothing romantic" between Grande and Alvarez. A source told TMZ that they are "just hanging out."
Grande and Alvarez dated briefly between April 2015 and July 2016, having met when Alvarez was hired as a backup dancer for her Honeymoon Tour. They have maintained a friendship since their breakup. Earlier on Thursday, Grande was seen having lunch with Alvarez and other friends in Austin.
This appearance follows reports of Grande's separation from Slater, whom she met on the set of the musical "Wicked." A source told the Daily Mail that their decision to end their three-year relationship was mutual and amicable, with both parties remaining on friendly terms. The breakup reportedly occurred several months ago.
Grande's tour began on June 6 in Oakland, California, and is scheduled to conclude on September 1 in London. Slater has not attended any of Grande's concerts. Their relationship began shortly after reports surfaced in July 2023 that Grande's marriage to Dalton Gomez was over; they had separated in January of that year. Slater had also recently separated from his wife, Lilly Jay, with whom he has a son born in August 2022. At the time of their relationship's emergence, sources maintained that Grande and Slater did not begin dating until after their respective separations from their partners.
Grande is also preparing for the release of her eighth studio album, "Petal," on July 31. The album includes the single "Hate That I Made You Love Me," described as a multi-layered track addressing public scrutiny and Grande's relationship with the media and her fan base.