The singer Ariana Grande and her ex-partner, the dancer and director Ricky Álvarez, confirmed the rumors of reconciliation with a romantic walk through Central Park, in New York. The images, published by TMZ, show the couple walking with the artist's dog, Toulouse, in a very affectionate attitude, with their arms linked and showing complicity.

Sources close to the couple confirmed to Us Weekly last Tuesday that the Grammy winner and Álvarez decided to give their relationship a second chance, almost ten years after their first courtship. The news comes after Grande's separation from her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater was announced in June.

A reunion with roots in the past

The love story between Grande and Álvarez dates back to 2015, when he joined her “Honeymoon Tour” as a dancer. The couple dated for about a year, until 2016.

Despite the breakup, they always maintained a cordial relationship and saw each other again in 2019. According to close sources, it was the singer herself who took the first step to rekindle the flame.

The familiarity and trust they share have been key to this reunion. “Ariana and Ricky are completely back in each other's lives and are together,” an insider tells Us Weekly.

"What ultimately drew her back in was the comfort and familiarity they share. She doesn't feel like she has to prove anything, and there's a level of trust that comes with knowing each other so well," the same source said.

Clues of romance

The reconciliation has not been a total surprise for the artist's followers. During her current “Eternal Sunshine Tour,” Grande altered the lyrics of her 2018 hit “Thank U, Next,” which originally mentioned Alvarez in a humorous way.

Instead of singing “I wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh,” the singer surprised her fans with new covers like “I wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back” or “I wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he still has my back.”

Last July 4, the couple was already seen together in Florida, and at the end of June, in Austin, Texas, which fueled speculation about their reconciliation. However, close sources insist that the relationship is progressing calmly and without rush.

“Ariana rekindled her relationship with Ricky, but she's not rushing it,” a source explained to Page Six. “She has a lot on her plate right now and is incredibly busy with her tour, so they are taking things step by step,” he said.

Grande is in the middle of her tour and preparing for the premiere of her next album “Petal”, which will be released on July 31.