Ariana Grande changed a key lyric during her Eternal Sunshine Tour in Austin and was later spotted out in ATX with ex Ricky Alvarez—right as she’s newly single after splitting from Ethan Slater earlier this month.
Ariana Grande fans were already leaning in during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in Austin—then she made it harder to look away.
When the show rolled around. viewers noticed a lyric shift in “Thank U. Next. ” where Grande had name-dropped her ex Ricky Alvarez. The line originally went. “wrote some songs about Ricky / now I listen and laugh.” On Wednesday. the words changed when she sang: “Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now they kinda slap.”.
The moment didn’t just stay onstage. A clip circulated after the performance, showing the updated line at the Austin stop (posted on June 25, 2026).
And only days later, the conversation followed Grande offstage. This week in ATX, she was spotted at a restaurant on Thursday with Ricky Alvarez. But fans hoping for a reconciliation got a cautionary note: TMZ’s sources warned not to get too excited right away. They said Grande was celebrating her birthday with friends—she turns 33 on Friday—and that Alvarez is simply one of her pals.
Still, the timing has fans putting pieces together, especially because Grande is newly single following her split from Ethan Slater earlier this month. Add the lyric update about Ricky, and it’s easy to see why speculation is buzzing.
Now the question is simple: is this just friendship landing in the middle of a messy, public breakup timeline—or something more?
Ariana Grande Ricky Alvarez Thank U Next lyrics Eternal Sunshine Tour Austin Ethan Slater breakup ATX spotted
So she just changed the lyric??
I swear celebrities change lyrics all the time but people act like it means they’re getting back together lol. If she’s newly single maybe she’s just being seen with friends for her birthday. TMZ sources are usually a mess too.
Wait I thought Ricky Alvarez was the one she dated like forever ago?? Now she’s singing “now they kinda slap” like it’s a diss? Also isn’t Ethan Slater the one from SpongeBob? So confused.
TMZ says dont get excited but of course fans will anyway. The lyric changed like right there in Austin and then she’s eating with him the next days?? That’s literally how the plot goes. Next thing you know she’s “rebranding” the whole breakup, like Ethan got replaced or something. Idk, I’m just saying timing is wild and I’m tired of pretending it’s not.