“Wrote some songs about Ricky/ We always find our way back,” Grande sang on Monday, July 13
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NEED TO KNOW
- Ariana Grande hinted at a reunion with her ex Ricky Alvarez as she changed the lyrics to “Thank U, Next” during her concert in Brooklyn, New York on Monday, July 13
- Grande and Alvarez, who dated for around a year before splitting in 2016, have remained close friends
- The musician has altered the song’s lyrics about Alvarez multiple times during her Eternal Sunshine tour
Ariana Grande is dropping more hints that she might have rekindled a romance with Ricky Alvarez, a decade after their initial breakup.
While performing at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, as part of her Eternal Sunshine tour on Monday, July 13, Grande, 33, changed the lyrics in her hit song “Thank U, Next,” to imply that she and Alvarez, 34, had reunited.
The original 2018 song features the lyrics, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh.”
However, during her latest performance, Grande sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky/ We always find our way back.”
Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
In a now-viral video shared on Instagram, the audience at the Barclays Center could be heard singing along to the song about Grande’s famous exes — including Big Sean, Pete Davidson and Mac Miller —before screaming when she changed the lyrics referring to Alvarez.
A rep for Grande did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment regarding the lyric change.
The Grammy winner and her former backup dancer called it quits in 2016 after dating for around a year.
Grande is almost halfway through her 41-date tour across 10 cities, while her eighth album, Petal, is set for release later this month.
Amid her tour, Grande spent the Fourth of July weekend in Florida with her family and Alvarez.
“She’s having a great time on tour. She loves having close friends join her for parts of the tour,” a source told PEOPLE. “Ricky has always been a friend and confidant. She really trusts him. He has such great, positive energy, makes her laugh and she enjoys spending time with him.”
Credit: John Shearer/Getty
Grande has changed the lyrics referring to Alvarez in “Thank U, Next” on at least two other occasions during her tour.
While performing at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on June 26, the Wicked star sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he’s still got my back.”
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Two days prior, she sang, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still kinda slap.”
Back in 2018, Alvarez reacted to the song when it was first released with a post on his Instagram Stories, writing at the time, “Nothing but gratitude,” adding, “Thank you, next… (Those songs are fire tho… you’re welcome).”
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