Ariana Grande swapped a key lyric about Ricky Álvarez during her tour finale in London, hinting she wants him to be her final love.
Grande, 33, sang “Wrote some songs about Ricky / I’m tryna make him my last” at the last “Eternal Sunshine” show on Tuesday, replacing the original “thank u, next” line “Now I listen and laugh,” according to a video Entertainment Tonight shared on X. The crowd cheered as she laughed after delivering the updated lyric.
The “7 rings” singer had already tweaked the same verse during her July 13 concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, singing “We always find our way back” instead of the original. She and Álvarez first dated for two months more than a decade ago and remained friends before rekindling their romance this July following Grande’s split from “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater.
“Ariana has rekindled things with Ricky, but she isn’t rushing back into the relationship,” a source said at the time. “She has a lot on her plate at the moment and is still incredibly busy with her tour schedule, so they’re taking things one step at a time.”
Confirmation of their renewed relationship came after the pair were spotted together multiple times, first sparking dating rumors when they were seen with friends at an Austin, Texas, restaurant for Grande’s 33rd birthday. She hard-launched the romance on Instagram last month, sharing neck-down photos of the couple and tagging Álvarez.
Fans also spotted what appeared to be another nod to him during one of her London concerts: a new tattoo reading “I do love you” on her clavicle. The same words appear inked on Álvarez’s left collarbone, though in a different font.
Grande’s rep announced early last month that the Grammy winner would step away from “public-facing work” after completing her tour, citing “endless ongoing public scrutiny” including concerns over her weight. “Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour,” the rep said. “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.”
The “God is a Woman” vocalist also pulled out of the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park With George,” in which she was set to star opposite “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey, who has since exited the production as well.
Grande wrapped her “Eternal Sunshine” tour in London and will now begin her planned break from public appearances.
