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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez<\/a> and Nelly and Ashanti<\/a> are just some of the lovers who\u2019ve found their way back to each other after over a decade of separation, and it looks like Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez<\/a> are joining the club. It really looks like the Eternal Sunshine<\/a> singer has gotten back together with her ex-boyfriend from 2015. In a time when galaxy pants and high ponytails ruled the world, he was her backup dancer for the Honeymoon tour. They began dating after Grande and Big Sean broke up in 2015, and even though their relationship was short-lived, he mattered enough to get a name drop in \u201cThank U, Next.\u201d At first, he was remembered as the ex who she laughs at, but now, he\u2019s the one she\u2019s giving another chance.<\/p>\n Maybe she was bored, or maybe she just wanted us all to remember donutgate<\/a> (he was in the video); either way, Ricky and Ari are so back. Here\u2019s how we got here.<\/p>\n April 26, 2014: Grande debuts her new song \u201cProblem\u201d at the Radio Disney Music Awards<\/a>, where she dances with Alvarez for the first time.<\/p>\n February 20, 2015: Grande and Alvarez begin the rehearsals for her second world tour, the Honeymoon Tour. She introduces all of the dancers to her fans in a YouTube video<\/a> called \u201cabout a week or so \/\/ crew saying hi (5days)\u201d. Everyone, including Grande, cheers \u201cRicky!\u201d as they point at him wearing a red beanie.<\/p>\n Manage cookie preferences<\/p>\n March 11, 2015: Alvarez gets emotional in Grande\u2019s vlog<\/a>, shedding tears over his gratitude for being a part of the tour.<\/p>\n June 28, 2015: She kisses him while singing Madonna\u2019s \u201cVogue\u201d at the NYC Pride: Dance on the Pier concert for Pride month.<\/p>\n Manage cookie preferences<\/p>\n July 7, 2015: It\u2019s donut-gate. TMZ releases<\/a> CCTV footage of Grande and Alvarez in a donut shop in Los Angeles on the Fourth of July, where Grande licks a donut and says, \u201cI fucking hate Americans, I hate America\u201d in between kisses with Alvarez. This incident confirms their relationship.<\/p>\n July 10, 2015: Grande apologizes<\/a> for donut-gate in a video, calling her behavior \u201cugly.\u201d<\/p>\n May 19, 2016: Grande gives a small insight into her relationship with Alvarez to Billboard<\/a>: \u201cWe\u2019re happy. I\u2019m a very happy girl. I have a healthy life right now, and I think that\u2019s all anyone cares to know. The end.\u201d<\/p>\n May 20, 2016:\u00a0Dangerous Woman<\/a>, Grande\u2019s third album, comes out, and the opening track, \u201cMoonlight,\u201d is about Alvarez. \u201cThat\u2019s what Ricky called her one night. I think it was after their first kiss,\u201d Victoria Monet, Grande\u2019s co-writer, tells Billboard<\/a>. \u201cHe waited to kiss her for a long time, and she was really impressed. He\u2019s such a gentleman, and the song is a great little bookmark of the start of their relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n July 26, 2016: Teen Vogue<\/a> reports the couple breaks up after a year of dating.<\/p>\n November 30, 2018: \u201cThank U, Next<\/a>\u201d shouts out all of Grande\u2019s exes, including Alvarez: \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n December 11, 2018:\u00a0She shuts down rumors that she and Alvarez got back together and confirms their friendship in an Instagram comment: \u201cWe\u2019re friends, everyone take a big ol breather.\u201d<\/p>\n February 9, 2019: Grande jokes<\/a> how Alvarez told her he got the worst line in \u201cThank U, Next,\u201d feeling like she called their relationship \u201ctrash.\u201d \u201cI could\u2019ve said that: \u2018I wrote some songs about Ricky, never mind he\u2019s trash,\u201d she sings on the Zach Sang Show.<\/a> \u201cBut I didn\u2019t. I said \u2018now I listen and laugh.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n June 8, 2026:\u00a0Grande and her boyfriend, Ethan Slater,\u00a0break up<\/a>\u00a0after three years of dating.<\/p>\n June 24, 2026: In a surprise lyric change<\/a>, Grande gives a little nod to her relationship with Alvarez at her Eternal Sunshine stop in Austin: \u201cWrote some songs about Ricky, now they still kinda slap.\u201d<\/p>\n June 26, 2026: Fans spot the two getting lunch together in Austin, and a source tells People<\/a> the two have been \u201changing out\u201d recently. Later that evening, she changes the lyric to \u201cI know he still got my back.\u201d Alvarez also shakes<\/a> Ari\u2019s dad\u2019s hand during the show.<\/p>\n July 13, 2026: In her latest lyric change, she seemingly confirms the relationship at her Brooklyn show: \u201cWe always find our way back.\u201d<\/p>\n July 17, 2026: TMZ<\/a> catches the couple cuddling in Central Park while walking her dog.<\/p>\n