Final Show Lyric Change
Ariana Grande closed her 41-show Eternal Sunshine world tour at London's O2 Arena on Tuesday with a lyric change that sparked immediate speculation about her relationship with boyfriend Ricky Alvarez. During a performance of her 2018 song "Thank U, Next," Grande sang "Wrote some songs about Ricky / I'm tryna make him my last," altering the original line "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh." The change was reported by multiple outlets covering the final show.
The lyric modification was not an isolated incident. Throughout the tour, Grande repeatedly revised the line referencing Alvarez, her former backup dancer whom she dated from 2015 to 2016 and rekindled a relationship with in June. At a July 13 show in New York City, she sang "Wrote some songs about Ricky / we always find our way back," and at a June 26 concert she changed it to "Wrote some songs about Ricky / I know he still got my back." Earlier in the tour, on June 24 in Austin, she sang "Wrote some songs about Ricky / now they kinda slap." The variations were noted by several reports, with The News International describing the alterations as a constant feature of the tour.
Fan Reactions
Social media reacted with excitement to the latest change. After a fan shared video of the O2 performance on X, one user wrote "THE MARRIAGE IS COMING," while another added "The wedding is coming any time soon!!" and a third commented "Oh RICKIANA ENDGAME." Some fans expressed skepticism, with one noting that Grande had made similar declarations about her ex-boyfriend Ethan Slater and ex-husband Dalton Gomez, suggesting the lyric might not be a definitive statement of intent.
Relationship History
Grande, 33, and Alvarez, 33, first dated in 2015 until July 2016, keeping their romance largely private, as reported by uk. Following their split, they remained in contact, and Alvarez worked as a photographer and videographer on Grande's tour the year after "Thank U, Next" was released. The pair rekindled their relationship in June, after Grande's split from her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, according to the Evening Standard and The News International. Alvarez was present at the O2 show, seated in the VIP section next to Grande's parents, The News International reported.
Grande had previously described the lyric about Alvarez as the "worst line" in "Thank U, Next," as noted by uk. When the song was released in 2018, Alvarez responded to his lyrical mention with a video in which he said "Nothing but gratitude. Thank you, next… (Those songs are fire tho… you're welcome)," and Grande replied "HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH IM SORRY U GOT THE WORST LINE," adding that the line was "meant v lovingly."
Tour Close and Next Steps
The O2 concert marked the final date of Grande's 41-show Eternal Sunshine Tour, after which she said she would step back from public life. In an emotional address to the crowd, Grande said: "This has been such an extraordinary experience. Thank you for 10 beautiful London shows and for 41 incredible Eternal Sunshine tour shows." She continued: "This has been one of the most beautiful, extraordinary experiences of my life and I just wanna express my gratitude. I'll cherish this experience always – I have the best fans in the entire world and I always have. Thank you for being by my side."
During the concert, Grande switched from her usual high heels to flat black and later white above-the-knee boots after suffering a "deep cut" to her foot, the Evening Standard reported. The tour close comes amid speculation about Grande's health, with online commenters discussing what they deemed her dramatic weight loss. Additionally, it was announced that Grande will no longer star in the Barbican's revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George, as part of her removal from the public eye.