Ariana Grande celebrated her 33rd birthday on Friday with a performance in Austin, Texas, and among the attendees was a familiar face from her past. Ricky Alvarez, the pop star's former backup dancer and ex-boyfriend, was spotted supporting Grande from the floor during her 'Eternal Sunshine' tour stop at the Texas venue.
The appearance comes shortly after Grande's split from Ethan Slater, her 'Wicked' costar with whom she had been dating for nearly three years. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed to TMZ that Alvarez and Grande maintain a platonic friendship, and that she invited several friends to Austin to celebrate her birthday milestone.
During Friday night's performance, Grande's backup dancers surprised her with a birthday cake on stage, marking the occasion with the audience. The celebration took on additional significance given Alvarez's presence and his history with the singer.
Alvarez first entered Grande's professional orbit over a decade ago when he danced in her 'Honeymoon' tour and appeared in several of her music videos. The two dated briefly during that period, and their relationship later earned a notable mention in Grande's 2019 hit song 'thank u, next,' where she referenced him by name.
In recent performances, Grande has playfully modified the lyrics referencing Alvarez in 'thank u, next.' The original line, 'Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh,' has been changed to variations including 'they still kinda slap' and 'he still got my back.' During Friday's Austin show, Grande's father was observed giving Alvarez a handshake during one of these lyric changes, underscoring the amicable nature of their current relationship.
The 'Eternal Sunshine' tour represents Grande's latest musical endeavor following her work on the upcoming film adaptation of 'Wicked,' where she stars alongside Slater. The pop star is currently single following the recent conclusion of her relationship with Slater, which had begun during their time working together on the highly anticipated musical film.
The Austin concert marked another stop on Grande's ongoing tour, which continues to draw both longtime fans and those connected to various chapters of her personal and professional life. The presence of Alvarez at the birthday celebration demonstrates the singer's ability to maintain positive relationships with former partners while navigating her current single status.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
