Ariana Grande has made her rekindled romance with Ricky Alvarez Instagram official, nearly a decade after the two called it quits.

On Wednesday, August 12, Grande shared a photo dump on Instagram that included two low-key pictures with Alvarez, confirming what had been the subject of romance speculation for weeks. In one image, the pair are seen together in a mirror selfie, with Alvarez’s arm around Grande and holding her hand. Another blurry photograph also features the former couple together.

The post marks the first time Grande has publicly shared a photo with Alvarez since reports of their reconciliation began circulating earlier this summer.

Grande and Alvarez, a former backup dancer, previously dated from 2015 to 2016. They remained friends after their split, and were first spotted together again in Austin, Texas, on June 26. Alvarez later attended Grande’s concert in the city, fuelling speculation that the two had grown close again.

Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez’s second chance

The signs of a reunion had been building for some time. During a New York concert in July, Grande gave Alvarez a shout-out by changing a line in “Thank U, Next” to sing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky / We always find our way back.”

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People had previously reported that the two were “taking things very slowly”, with a source describing Alvarez as someone Grande has always considered a friend and confidant. The singer, according to the source, trusts him and enjoys spending time with him.

“They’re not jumping into anything serious right away, but Ari is happy to have him back in her life,” another source told People in July.

A relationship that dates back to 2015

Grande and Alvarez first got together while he was part of her touring dance team. Their relationship lasted roughly a year before they split in 2016. They remained on friendly terms after the breakup, making the recent reunion less of a completely unexpected development.

That history has also resurfaced through Grande’s music. Her changed “Thank U, Next” lyric during the New York show gave fans another clue that Alvarez had once again become an important presence in her life.

Now, with Grande choosing to include him in her Instagram feed, the speculation has given way to something considerably more concrete.

Grande’s life after the spotlight

The timing of the relationship becoming public is also notable. Grande is currently touring in support of her Eternal Sunshine era and has said she plans to take a step back from visibility once her tour commitments end in September. People reported earlier this month that the singer intends to take the break after finishing the tour.

For now, though, the singer appears to be allowing fans a small glimpse into her personal life. There was no elaborate relationship announcement or posed couple portrait. Instead, Grande slipped Alvarez into a larger collection of photographs from her life, making the confirmation feel understated but unmistakable.