Ariana Grande and Ex Ricky Alvarez Reunite in Central Park

Ariana Grande and former boyfriend Ricky Alvarez were photographed together in Central Park on Thursday, July 17, marking their first public appearance since news emerged earlier this month that the pair had rekindled their romance.

The 33-year-old singer walked her dog, Toulouse, through the New York City park with her arm around Alvarez's waist while the 34-year-old photographer had his arm draped around her shoulder, according to photographs published by TMZ. Grande wore an all-black ensemble with her hair styled in a bun, while Alvarez dressed in a black tank top, camouflage pants, and a blue baseball cap.

Us Weekly reported on Tuesday, July 14, that the Grammy winner and Alvarez had resumed their relationship approximately ten years after their initial romance concluded. The reunion follows Grande's June split from Wicked costar Ethan Slater, with whom she had been involved for two years.

"They've always shared a close bond," a source told Us Weekly. "There was a period in time where they weren't close — while she was with Ethan — so she is happy to reconnect with him again."

The source added that Grande "is grateful to have him in her life right now, and he's been a huge source of support."

Alvarez first entered Grande's orbit as a dancer on her Honeymoon Tour, which ran from 2014 to 2015. Their professional relationship evolved into a romantic one that lasted from 2015 to 2016. Since their split, Alvarez has established himself as a photographer and music video director, helming projects for prominent artists including Usher's 2023 "Boyfriend" video featuring Keke Palmer, as well as work with Becky G and Lil Wayne.

The relationship between Grande and Alvarez became part of pop culture history through her 2018 hit "Thank U, Next," which chronicled several of her past relationships. The original lyrics referenced Alvarez with the line, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh." The track also mentioned exes Big Sean, Pete Davidson, and Mac Miller.

Grande has recently modified those lyrics during performances on her ongoing Eternal Sunshine Tour. At her Monday, July 13, concert at the Barclays Center in New York City, she sang, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back." During her June 26 performance in Austin, Texas, the Oscar nominee delivered an alternate version: "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Know he still got my back."

In a 2019 interview on The Zach Sang Show, Grande discussed Alvarez's response to his mention in the original song. "Ricky loved it. He was proud," she said. "But Ricky was like, 'Why did I get the worst line?' And I was like, 'What do you mean?' He was like, 'Everyone else's line is so nice, and mine is like, 'Man, f*** him, he's trash.' I was like I could have said that. "I could've said, 'Wrote some songs about Ricky, never mind he's trash.' … But I didn't. I said, 'Now I listen and laugh.'"

The reconciliation represents a full-circle moment for both Grande and Alvarez, whose connection has endured despite the passage of nearly a decade and Grande's subsequent high-profile relationships. The revised concert lyrics suggest the singer views their renewed relationship as a meaningful return rather than simply revisiting the past.