The 33-year-old singer revealed she is "taking a step back from visibility" after announcing plans to step away from public life, explaining that recent public appearances had led to "endless, ongoing public scrutiny".
As she makes that transition, she is turning to Ricky Alvarez, her former backup dancer and boyfriend from 2015 to 2016, whom she recently started dating again.
Support from Ricky Alvarez
Last month, a source told People the pair were "taking things very slowly", adding: "She's not held ill will against him [since their split]. Ricky is dependable, trustworthy and very supportive. Ariana feels she can be herself around Ricky."
A representative for Grande said: "Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour. She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much."
Rekindled romance
The pair were seen having lunch together on June 26 ahead of her show in Austin, Texas. Ricky also joined Ariana and her family for the 4th of July holiday in Florida and has been a frequent presence on her current tour.
A source told PEOPLE: "She's having a great time on tour. She loves having close friends join her for parts of the tour. 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."
Another source added: "Ariana has always considered Ricky a friend. She's not held ill will against him. Ricky is dependable, trustworthy and very supportive. Ariana feels she can be herself around Ricky. They have a similar, smart, dry sense of humour. They're not jumping into anything serious right away, but Ari is happy to have him back in her life. Ricky has always been a friend and confidant. He has such great, positive energy, makes her laugh, and she enjoys spending time with him."
A friendship that lasted
Ariana and Ricky originally split amicably due to the pressures of her career. After their breakup, she dated Mac Miller, Pete Davidson, Dalton Gomez and Ethan Slater, but maintained a friendly connection with Ricky throughout.
In "Thank U, Next", released in 2018, she sang: "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh." Ricky later posted a lighthearted video reacting to his shoutout, captioning it: "Nothing but gratitude...Thank you, next… (those songs are fire tho… you're welcome)." Ariana reshared it, writing: "HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH IM SORRY U GOT THE WORST LINE. It was meant v lovingly."
More recently, she tweaked the lyrics during live performances to "Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he's still got my back" and, in another show, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still kinda slap."
Reason for the break
The decision to take a break follows the release of the music video for her single "Petal", taken from her eighth studio album, which sparked renewed online speculation about her health and weight loss.
In a 2024 interview, she said she had been "a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17. I have heard it all. I have heard every form of what is wrong with me. And then you fix it and then it is wrong for different reasons." She added: "It is hard to protect yourself from that noise. I think that it's something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you're experiencing it on."
She also said: "From what you are wearing, to your body, to your face, to your everything – there is a comfortability that people have commenting on that that I think is really dangerous. I think it is dangerous for all parties involved." In November, she reshared the interview on social media with the caption: "As a loving reminder to all".
Life after Ethan Slater
The rekindled romance comes after Grande's split from Wicked co-star Ethan Slater after nearly three years together. Insiders say she is "doing really well" after the breakup, adding: "Her relationship with Ethan is 100% over. She's focused on her tour and spending time with the people who have always been there for her."
