Everyone remembers the donut. Honestly, it’s basically impossible to think about the era of Honeymoon Avenue and white go-go boots without that infamous security footage from Wolfee Donuts playing in the back of your mind. But while the internet fixated on a tray of glazed pastries and a very ill-advised comment about America, something else was happening in the background. Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez weren't just a PR crisis waiting to happen; they were a legitimate, high-intensity relationship that fundamentally shifted how Ariana navigated her public life.
They met where most pop stars find their "people"—on stage. Ricky was a backup dancer. He was part of the crew, a constant presence during the 2014-2015 Honeymoon Tour. There’s a specific kind of bond that forms when you’re traveling the world at 21, performing to sold-out arenas, and living out of suitcases. It’s tight. It’s messy. And for Ariana, it was the first time she really stepped away from the "Nickelodeon star" image into something a bit more rebellious.
How the Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez Story Actually Started
It wasn't a red carpet debut. In fact, for a long time, it was just a rumor fueled by grainy fan-cam footage of them looking a little too close during dance breaks. They had chemistry. You could see it in the way they moved together during "Love Me Harder." But the official "hard launch" was accidental.
In July 2015, that surveillance video leaked. It showed them playing a game of truth-or-dare with some donuts, and it also showed them kissing. Suddenly, Ricky wasn't just "the dancer with the cool hat." He was the boyfriend. He was the guy who was there during the first major scandal of her career.
Most people don't realize how much of a stabilizer Ricky was during that time. While the media was calling for her head over "Donutgate," Ricky was the one in her inner circle. He wasn't a celebrity with his own PR team to protect. He was just there. It created a "us against the world" dynamic that usually makes a relationship burn very bright and very fast.
The Moonlight Connection
If you’re a real fan, you know the song "Moonlight." It’s the opening track of Dangerous Woman, and for the longest time, the album was actually supposed to be titled Moonlight. Why? Because of Ricky.
During a Q&A session years later, Ariana’s close friend Victoria Monét confirmed that Ricky was the one who gave her that nickname. He called her "Moonlight," and it stuck so hard she wrote a whole 1950s-style ballad about it. When you listen to those lyrics—talking about a "sweet adventure" and someone who makes her feel like she’s "glowing"—you’re hearing the peak of their relationship.
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It was a soft era. Despite the leather masks and the "Dangerous Woman" rebranding that followed, her time with Ricky was marked by a certain kind of artistic vulnerability. He was her photographer, too. A lot of the iconic, grainy, film-style photos from that 2015-2016 period were taken by him. He saw her through a lens that wasn't about being a "diva." He saw her as a person.
Why They Ended (And Why It Stayed Quiet)
By July 2016, a year after the donut shop incident, it was over. No big blowout. No shade-throwing on Twitter. She just stopped posting him. She deleted some of the photos. Sources at the time told E! News that she simply realized it wasn't working anymore, but they remained friends.
That’s a rare thing in Hollywood.
Usually, when a pop star breaks up with a "civilian" or a staff member, it gets ugly. NDAs get mentioned. Subtweets are flying. But with Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez, it was different. Maybe it’s because he knew too much, or maybe they just genuinely liked each other. She even referenced him in "Thank U, Next" with a line that was surprisingly kind: "Wrote some songs about Ricky / Now I listen and laugh."
That line is vital. She’s not laughing at him; she’s laughing at the version of herself that was so deeply in love with her backup dancer. It’s a nostalgic laugh. It’s the kind of laugh you have when you look back at your first "adult" relationship.
The 2019 Reunion Rumors
The internet nearly broke in 2019 when they started hanging out again. They were spotted walking in New York City. He was seen at her shows. Everyone thought they were back together.
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But they weren't.
They had reached that rare "ex-to-bestie" tier. Ricky even helped her with some creative direction on the Sweetener tour. It’s a testament to Ariana’s growth that she could keep someone from a chaotic chapter of her life around as a source of support. He was there for her after the Pete Davidson breakup. He was there during the heavy lifting of her emotional recovery.
He’s a constant. In a world where her life changes every six months, Ricky Alvarez is one of the few people who knew her before she was a global powerhouse.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Timeline
People think Ricky was a rebound from Big Sean. He wasn't. The timeline suggests there was a significant overlap of friendship before anything became romantic.
They also think he was just a "phase." But if you look at the credits of her work, his influence is all over it. He didn't just dance behind her; he helped shape the aesthetic of the Dangerous Woman era. That transition from the "ponytail girl" to the "femme fatale" was something they navigated together.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
If you're looking back at the Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez era, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding how celebrities handle privacy and professional boundaries:
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- Watch the creative credits: Often, the most important people in a celebrity's life aren't the ones on the red carpet, but the ones listed under "Creative Direction" or "Photography."
- Don't mistake friendship for romance: The 2019 "reunion" proved that two people can be incredibly close without being dating. In the world of high-level touring, your crew becomes your family.
- Contextualize the music: Listening to Moonlight hits differently when you realize it was a nickname given by a partner, not just a poetic choice.
The story of Ricky and Ariana is a reminder that even the most scrutinized public figures have private corners of their lives that are actually quite normal. They were just two twenty-somethings working together, falling in love, and eventually figuring out they were better off as friends. It wasn't a tragedy. It was just a chapter.
To truly understand Ariana's discography, look at the transition between the tracks on My Everything and the cohesion of Dangerous Woman. The shift in confidence is palpable, and much of that comes from the stability of her inner circle during 2015. While the public focused on a donut, she was busy building the foundation of the superstar she is today.
Keep an eye on the credits of your favorite artists. You’ll find that the "Rickys" of the world—the dancers, the photographers, the friends—are often the ones holding the pen when the most iconic songs are written.
Next Steps for Deep Context
To get the full picture of this era, go back and watch the Honeymoon Tour vlog series on YouTube. You can see the natural chemistry of the entire dance crew and how Ricky stood out not as a "celebrity boyfriend," but as a core member of Ariana's creative family. Pay close attention to the behind-the-scenes footage of the "Moonlight" writing sessions; it provides the best evidence of how her personal life directly fueled her most celebrated artistic pivot.