Ariana Grande debuts matching 'I do love you' tattoo with boyfriend Ricky Alvarez

Ariana Grande has sparked fresh speculation about her rekindled romance with former backup dancer Ricky Alvarez after debuting a new tattoo during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in London. The pop star, 33, was seen with the ink on her collarbone as she kicked off her 10-day residency at the O2 Arena on Saturday. The tattoo, which reads 'I do love you,' appears to match one that Alvarez displayed in a selfie posted to his Instagram account in July 2025. The development comes shortly after Grande went Instagram official with Alvarez, sharing a series of loved-up photographs earlier in the week, effectively hard launching their on-again relationship to her millions of followers.

Grande and Alvarez originally dated from 2015 to 2016, and the singer had been dropping hints throughout the summer that the pair were rekindling their romance. She notably altered specific lyrics from her past songs during live performances, a subtle but deliberate signal to attentive fans. The renewed relationship follows Grande's three-year involvement with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater. Reports emerged in June that Grande and Slater had quietly ended their relationship several months prior, paving the way for her reunion with Alvarez. The timeline suggests a gradual, private transition between the two relationships, with Grande using her tour as a platform to communicate personal changes through artistic expression.

During the first London concert, Grande addressed the audience with visible emotion, describing herself as 'overwhelmed' as she embarked on the final leg of her extensive tour. She told the crowd that London represents the last stop on the Eternal Sunshine Tour and vowed to 'savor every single second' of the remaining ten shows. This announcement follows a declaration made two weeks earlier during a Chicago concert, where Grande revealed her intention to step back from the spotlight to 'set boundaries.' She explained to fans that 'human beings need a break sometimes,' signaling a significant shift in her public life. The tour is scheduled to conclude on September 1, after which Grande plans to take a hiatus from her career.

The decision to withdraw from public life comes amid a grueling five-year period during which Grande filmed both parts of the blockbuster musical Wicked, engaged in extensive promotional campaigns, shot the film Focker-in-Law, and released two full-length albums, Eternal Sunshine and Petal, all before embarking on her current tour. The relentless pace has drawn concern from those close to her, with a family insider exclusively telling the Daily Mail that Grande's inner circle had 'begged' her to take a break from her career. Prior to her London performances, Grande was reported to have prepared by retreating to the Oxfordshire countryside with Alvarez, where the couple enjoyed downtime at a luxurious spa. They reportedly traveled together on a first-class commercial flight from New York to London before heading to the countryside. The matching tattoos and public acknowledgment of the relationship suggest a desire for stability and personal happiness as Grande prepares for an extended absence from the entertainment industry.