Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez's Relationship Timeline: From Their First Romance to Their Reunion

Are Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez back together?

The "thank u, next" songstress began dating her backup dancer after her 2015 split from Big Sean. Although Grande and Alvarez ended their relationship after about a year, they reportedly found their way back to each other a decade later.

Here's everything to know so far about Grande and Alvarez's relationship.

According to Cosmopolitan, Alvarez served as one of Grande's backup dancers for her debut live performance of "Problem" at the Radio Disney Music Awards in April 2014. However, ELLE reported the two met while he was working as a backup dancer on her Honeymoon Tour in 2015.

Grande and Alvarez fueled dating speculation when they shared a kiss onstage during her New York City Pride concert in June 2015.

In July 2015, the "hate that I made you love me" songstress drew criticism when security footage showed her licking and spitting on unpurchased doughnuts at Wolfee Donuts in Lake Elsinore, Calif., and declaring she hates America.

Grande posted an apology video following the backlash, saying, "Seeing a video of yourself behaving poorly, that you have no idea was taken, is such a rude awakening, that you don't know what to do – I was so disgusted with myself. Not here to make any excuses or justify my behavior, because I can't. … I'm just here to apologize."

Months after the infamous donutgate, Grande and Alvarez made their public debut as a couple at the Spotify Creators Party on February 13, 2016.

Grande released her album Dangerous Woman in May 2016, and fans were convinced some of the tracks — including "True Love" and "Moonlight" — were inspired by her relationship with Alvarez.

Speaking with Billboard that same month, she revealed she and her then-boyfriend were "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," she added.

After about a year of dating, Grande set off rumors that they had split when she dropped cryptic posts on Twitter, now X.

"life is wild," she wrote. "and change is f------ fantastic."

Grande also shared she was "(not just talking bangs)," adding "but yeah bangs."

Grande namedropped several exes in her hit track "thank u, next," including Pete Davidson, Mac Miller and Alvarez.

He reacted to the lyric by sharing a zoomed-in video of Grande singing the line. He also wrote on a separate slide, "Nothing but gratitude. Thank you, next…(those songs are fire tho… you're welcome)."

During an appearance on "The Zach Sang Show" in February 2019, Grande shared Alvarez's reaction to the track while promoting the album.

"Ricky loved it. He was proud. But Ricky was like, 'Why did I get the worst line?' And I was like, 'What do you mean?' He was like, 'Everyone else's line is so nice, and mine is like, 'Man, f--- him, he's trash.' I was like, I could have said that," she said. "I could've said, 'Wrote some songs about Ricky, never mind he's trash.'…But I didn't. I said, 'Now I listen and laugh.'"

They continued working together after the breakup, with Alvarez reportedly working on the single art for Grande's "imagine."

In January 2019, Alvarez shared a photobooth snap from Grande's "7 Rings" release party alongside the caption, "woo."

Grande commented, "the best team. See y'all on touuuuur."

Following her split from Ethan Slater, Grande and Alvarez reconciliation rumors intensified when the Grammy Award-winning singer changed the lyrics of "thank u, next" during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in Austin on June 24, singing, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / And they still kinda slap."

Two days later, on June 26, Grande was spotted grabbing lunch with Alvarez in Austin, Texas. At the time, a source told People the pair had "been hanging out recently," though sources told TMZ they were just friends.

Grande and Alvarez spent the Fourth of July weekend together with her family in Florida, according to the photos published by TMZ.

"She's having a great time on tour. She loves having close friends join her for parts of the tour," a source told an outlet. "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."

Grande performed another altered version of the song at a subsequent show, delivering the line, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he's still got my back."

She changed the lyrics again during her July 13 concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., singing the line, "Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back."

Grande and Alvarez were seen together in Central Park on July 16. The backup dancer then attended her July 18 and 19 Eternal Sunshine Tour shows.

Following the buzz, People confirmed the exes are dating again but are "taking things very slowly."

"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," said the source, adding Grande loves how funny "Alvarez" is.

"They have a similar, smart, dry sense of humor," the insider continued. "They're not jumping into anything serious right away, but Ari is happy to have him back in her life."