Ariana Grande gives unexpected nod to ex Ricky Alvarez at Austin show after Ethan Slater split

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Singer Ariana Grande gave a heartfelt nod to former boyfriend and backup dancer Ricky Alvarez during her 'Eternal Sunshine Tour' stop on Friday, June 26, which also marked her 33rd birthday.

This came after the former couple were spotted spending time together, with Grande surprising fans a day later by changing the lyrics to her 2018 hit 'Thank U, Next,' a moment that sparked excitement inside the arena and quickly spread across social media.

Ariana Grande changes lyrics for Ricky Alvarez

During her performance at the Moody Center, Grande altered the lyrics in the verse dedicated to her former boyfriends. Instead of singing, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh," she performed, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he still got my back," offering a glimpse into where she and Alvarez stand today.

Fan-recorded footage showed Alvarez, who attended the concert, reacting with a subtle smile after hearing the lyric change. A man whom fans believed to be Grande's father, Edward Butera, shook his hand, while her mother, Joan Grande, also casually gestured toward him during the moment. 

The lyric change was not the first of the Austin performances. During the opening night of her three-show run at the Moody Center on June 24, she had already modified the line, singing, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still really slap."

Another video captured him watching Grande perform from the arena's VIP pit. As soon as he heard the lyric change, he could be seen whipping his head toward his friend before the two shared a proud handshake.

The latest tribute came one day after Grande was photographed having lunch with Alvarez and a friend at Mexican restaurant De Nada Cantina in Austin. She wore a black 'Eternal Sunshine Tour' T-shirt, while Alvarez wore an Elysia band tee that revealed his arm tattoos.

Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez remain close friends

The two dated from 2015 until July 2016 while largely keeping their relationship out of the spotlight. During their relationship, Grande told Billboard, "We're happy. I'm a very happy girl. I have a healthy life right now, and I think that's all anyone cares to know. The end."

They have remained friends in the 10 years since their split, and their public reunion came just weeks after news broke that Grande and her 'Wicked' co-star Ethan Slater had quietly ended their relationship months earlier.

A source previously told E!, "They have quietly been broken up after nearly three years together."

Other outlets also confirmed the split, with another source saying, "It's amicable, they gave lots of time and careful consideration and decided to go their separate ways."

The source further said, "They are still friends and very supportive of one another. They have been quietly broken up for several months."

When 'Thank U, Next' was first released in 2018, Alvarez shared a video of himself listening to the song before joking on his Instagram Stories.

He said, "Nothing but gratitude. Thank you, next… (Those songs are fire though… you're welcome)." She reshared his post and replied, "Oh for sure … ty next," and then added, "It was meant v lovingly."