Ariana Grande ‘Does Not Care What People Say’ About Ricky Alvarez Romance: He ‘Makes Her Happy’

Ariana Grande plans to use her upcoming break from the spotlight to enjoy plenty of romantic time with rekindled flame Ricky Alvarez, a source tells Star.

Ten years after calling it quits, the “thank u, next” singer, 33, went Instagram official with her former back-up dancer, 38, on Wednesday, August 12.

“Ricky is someone she’s known forever,” says the source. “They have so much history, it’s just very easy and she says the moment he stepped back into her life she instantly felt calmer.”

Reconciliation rumors began swirling after Alvarez was spotted at Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in Brooklyn on Monday, July 13, just a few days after news broke of her split from Wicked costar Ethan Slater.

“At first, they were keeping things in the friend zone, but then it just naturally progressed because they do have such a strong attraction to each other,” the source says of the on-again couple, who dated from 2015 to 2016. “Ariana says she’s trying not to get ahead of herself but in some ways, she does feel like fate could be giving them a second chance for a reason.”

There are, however, naysayers giving Grande a hard time for dating again when she’s in such a fragile place, Star‘s source adds.

“Ariana does not care what people say,” notes the source. “Being with Ricky makes her happy and she finds it absurd for anyone to suggest she shouldn’t be with him because she’s in some sort of alleged health crisis.”

Earlier this month, the pop star’s rep told People that she’ll be “taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work” in September following “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”

“She appreciates people’s concerns, but she’s adamant that there is no reason to worry,” says the source. “She insists that she’s fine and simply overworked and stressed and now that she has some time off, she can focus on enjoying herself and getting back her strength.”