Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez Light Up the Red Carpet
Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez made the perfect pair in their first red carpet appearance after rekindling their romance. The couple walked together at the premiere of Focker-in-Law at the Beacon Theatre in New York. The appearance is 10 years in the making, with the couple’s relationship taking a major detour.
Ricky Alvarez and Ariana Grande make their red carpet debut
There was no better place for Ricky Alvarez and Ariana Grande to make it red carpet official than New York, and they did it in style. According to TMZ, Grande, 33, stunned in a vintage 1990s Badgley Mischka ballgown. Grande wore her signature ponytail, bringing a look that echoed her style from when she and Alvarez first got together. Alvarez looked right at home next to his love in a casual black blazer and dark jeans.
The pair posed arm in arm for photographers, with Alvarez wrapping his arms around Grande’s waist. They looked at ease with each other. Before they hit the carpet, Alvarez shared a selfie of the two on his Instagram Stories with a simple caption: “Fockers.” Grande later reposted it.
Grande and Alvarez’s debut also marked a rare public appearance for Grande. In September, she took a step back from public life amid “ongoing public scrutiny.” Her rep noted she was going to take time to live a private life. While she’s done that, the premiere was a working engagement for the star, and Alvarez appeared to be there for support.
Focker-in-Law is the fourth film in the Meet the Parents franchise, though it is Grande’s first role in the series. She appears alongside returning stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, and Owen Wilson. Grande plays Olivia, the girlfriend of Henry Focker. The movie opens in theaters on November 25.
A look back at the couple’s romance
Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez first crossed paths in 2014, when he joined her Honeymoon tour as a backup dancer. Alvarez, a dancer and choreographer from San Diego, performed behind Grande on songs like “Problem” and “Santa Tell Me.” They made their professional relationship personal in April 2015.
They were inseparable for a little over a year before splitting in July 2016. The breakup was amicable, and Alvarez later earned a famous name-check in Grande’s 2018 hit “thank u, next.” They both moved on from the romance. Alvarez remained largely private, but Grande had multiple high-profile romances, including her ill-fated marriage to Dalton Gomez and her divisive relationship with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.
The exes reconnected this summer, weeks after Grande and Slater split. Alvarez was spotted celebrating her 33rd birthday with her in June, and the pair spent the Fourth of July with Grande’s family. It was clear they were back together, but a source told People they were taking it slow and keeping things private. That didn’t last long. On August 12, Grande made it Instagram official by including Alvarez in a photo dump, though she still didn’t speak about him. The red carpet debut makes it clear that their second act is one they are taking very seriously. Could marriage be on the horizon? Maybe.