I know we’ve collectively decided that 2026 is the new 2016, but I never would’ve guessed that same logic would also apply to celebrity relationship rumors. According to eagle-eyed fans, pop princess Ariana Grande spent her July 4 weekend in Florida with family, friends… and ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez??? If that weren’t enough, Grande also changed the lyrics to her hit “Thank U, Next” in a way that seemed to hint at a rekindled romance. (Her Campus reached out to Grande’s team for comment on the romance rumor, but didn’t hear back by the time of publication.) That’s right, Arianators. “Rickiana” might be sooo back.
For fans who grew up during Grande’s My Everything era, the rumors are definitely a throwback no one saw coming. Before Eternal Sunshine and the oh-so-pink wardrobe of Glinda the Good, there was 2015 Ariana Grande. Half-up half-down ponytail, winged liner sharp enough to cut glass, and Ricky Alvarez appearing in dance rehearsals, Snapchat clips, and tour memories. It’s been 10 years since the couple initially split, so the possibility of a reunion feels less like a typical celebrity rumor and more like someone drove back down to “Honeymoon Avenue.” Maybe it’s nostalgia talking, or maybe fans just have a sixth sense for these things — but either way, the internet is absolutely eating it up.
During her NYC performance of “Thank U, Next” at the Barclays Center on July 13, as part of her Eternal Sunshine tour, Grande changed the lyrics, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh” to, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.” Naturally, Arianators and the internet collectively lost their minds. After all, changing that lyric — the one famously dedicated to all of her exes — feels like a pretty major Easter egg from a singer who has built an entire career around hidden meanings and carefully placed clues.
However, this isn’t the first time Grande has switched up the 2019 hit. During her Austin, Texas show on June 27, she changed the same Ricky lyric to, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he’s still got my back,” and also added, “I even almost got married.” Whether these changes are a playful nod to her past, an inside joke with fans, or a subtle confirmation that something has shifted between her and Alvarez remains the million dollar question.
Of course, it’s worth remembering that Grande has always had a complicated and playful relationship with her lyrics. From turning personal heartbreak into chart-topping anthems to producing a highly emotional Brighter Days short film, she’s never been afraid to let her work evolve alongside her life. So while fans might be ready to welcome “Rickiana” back with open arms (while “Love Me Harder” plays on vinyl in the background), neither Grande nor Alvarez have confirmed the nature of their relationship.
For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if this is a true second chance romance or simply another Ariana Grande plot twist that has the internet saying, “Thank u, next… wait, actually, come back?”