So, what’s really going on between Ariana Grande and her ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez? Could the two still have feelings for each other, or are they simply reconnecting as friends?
The Grammy Award winner fueled reunion speculation after being seen with her former flame, 35-year-old Ricky Alvarez, reigniting rumors that the two may be giving their romance another chance.
Well, Ariana Grande hardly needs an introduction. She has won three Grammy Awards, a Brit Award, two Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and holds 40 Guinness World Records. On top of that, both Rolling Stone and Billboard have recognized her as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Her music has always been the headline, but fans have also followed her love life closely. Over the years, her high‑profile relationships have kept the spotlight just as bright. Here’s a look at who she’s dated…
The reunion grabbed headlines- Ricky Alvarez
Grande was in a year-long relationship with Ricky Alvarez, who was one of her backup dancers on the Honeymoon Tour.
Their love story began quietly in April 2015, when Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez started dating behind the scenes. Fans got their first real hint that something was going on in June 2015, after the pair shared a passionate kiss during Ariana’s performance at the New York City Pride concert. Just a month later, they found themselves at the center of the widely discussed “Donut Incident,” which kept the couple in the headlines.
By February 2016, Ariana and Ricky had made their relationship official on the red carpet, posing together at the Spotify Creators Party in Los Angeles. Despite looking happy together, the romance didn’t last. Later that year, the couple amicably parted ways due to their demanding schedules. Ariana later hinted at the breakup by posting cryptic messages about embracing “change,” making it clear there was no bad blood between them.
Graham Phillips
Ariana Grande dated actor Graham Phillips for three years, from 2008 to 2011. Phillips is best known for his roles in The Good Wife, Ben 10: Race Against Time, the Broadway musical 13, and the independent comedy Staten Island Summer.
Jai Brooks and Nathan Sykes
About a year after her breakup with Graham Phillips, Ariana Grande began an on-again, off-again relationship with Australian YouTuber Jai Brooks. The couple dated from August 2012 to August 2014, with their romance going through several breakups and reconciliations. During one of their separations, Ariana briefly dated Nathan Sykes, the English singer and fellow 1993-born star best known as a member of the British-Irish boy band The Wanted.
Big Sean
Not long afterward, Ariana Grande began dating rapper Big Sean. The couple was together for about eight months, from October 2014 to April 2015. Big Sean was already a rising star in hip-hop, known for his successful albums Finally Famous (2011) and Hall of Fame (2013), and the pair quickly became one of the entertainment industry’s most talked-about couples.
Mac Miller
Although Ariana Grande and Mac Miller first collaborated on “The Way” in 2012, they didn’t begin dating until 2016. The Grammy Award-nominated rapper featured Grande on his fourth studio album, The Divine Feminine (2016), which also included collaborations with Kendrick Lamar and Anderson. Paak, CeeLo Green, and Ty Dolla $ign. Ariana appeared on the album’s third single, “My Favorite Part,” and the couple quickly became fan favorites. However, their relationship came to an end in May 2018 after nearly two years together.
Pete Davidson
In May 2018, the Princess of Pop began a romance with American comedian and actor Pete Davidson. After just a few weeks of dating, the couple got engaged in June 2018, and Ariana even included a song titled “Pete Davidson” on her album Sweetener, inspired by their relationship. Tragedy struck in September 2018 when her former boyfriend, Mac Miller, died from an accidental drug overdose. Ariana publicly mourned his passing on social media, calling him her “dearest friend.” A month later, in October 2018, she and Davidson called off their engagement and ended their relationship.
Dalton Gomez
Wait, wait… the story doesn’t end there! In January 2020, Ariana Grande began dating luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez. Unlike her previous high-profile relationships, the two kept their romance mostly private. Fans finally got a glimpse of the couple in May 2020, when Dalton appeared alongside Ariana in the music video for her and Justin Bieber’s charity single, “Stuck with U.” After 11 months of dating, Ariana announced their engagement on December 20, 2020, delighting fans with photos of her stunning engagement ring.
Grande married Dalton Gomez in a private Montecito ceremony on May 15, 2021. Her wedding photos became Instagram’s second‑most‑liked post at the time, with over 25 million likes. The couple separated in February 2023 and filed for divorce that September, finalizing it in March 2024.
But the story continued. By July 2023, Ariana Grande was confirmed to be dating Tony Award nominee Ethan Slater, whom she met while filming Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu. The two developed a relationship during production and remained together for several years. However, by June 2026, reports confirmed that the couple had ended their relationship and gone their separate ways.
