Ethan Slater reportedly learned of his ex-girlfriend Ariana Grande's rekindled relationship with Ricky Alvarez through mutual friends, according to a report.
"Ariana hasn’t told Ethan specifically, but mutual friends have told him that she is now dating Ricky again," an insider told The Daily Mail on Friday. Other sources indicated that Grande has maintained contact with Alvarez over the years but asserted that she "she never crossed the line while she was with Ethan."
Sources suggested that Grande always kept in touch with Alvarez due to their shared circle of friends. One source explained that the photographer is "very happy being back in her life and is looking for this second chance to be what he wanted the first time around."
Grande and Alvarez, who dated between 2015 and 2016, are reportedly "fully back in each other’s lives and are together." The comfort and familiarity they share are cited as key factors in their reconciliation. According to one insider, Grande "doesn’t feel like she has to prove herself, and there’s a level of trust that comes with knowing each other so well."
The couple are said to be approaching their renewed relationship with a different perspective, discussing past issues and making an effort to avoid repeating mistakes. "They’re approaching the relationship with more maturity and a clearer understanding of each other," a source claimed.
Grande and Alvarez first sparked reconciliation rumors in late June when they were seen with friends at a restaurant in Austin, Texas, for Grande's birthday. The pair were later photographed together during the Fourth of July weekend in Boca Raton, Florida, while shopping at a Whole Foods.
Further fueling speculation, Grande altered a lyric in her hit song "Thank U, Next" during her "Eternal Sunshine" tour. The original lyric, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh," was changed to "Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back" during a July 13 performance in Brooklyn, New York.
Grande and Alvarez began making headlines weeks after news of her split from Slater broke. Page Six confirmed on June 6 that the "Wicked" co-stars had quietly ended their relationship after three years together. A source stated at the time that Grande and Slater "broke up several months ago but they’ve remained friends since then and have nothing but respect and admiration for one another."
"This wasn’t a decision they took lightly but realized they were better off friends than in a committed relationship," the source added. At the time of their split, Grande was reportedly "feeling really happy and focused on the next chapter with her ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour and the upcoming release of her album ‘Petal.’"