Ariana Grande returned to the spotlight on Wednesday for the New York premiere of Focker-In-Law, the fourth movie in the Meet the Parents franchise.
The 33-year-old singer and actress attended the Beacon Theatre premiere with her boyfriend, Ricky Alvarez, 35, marking their first red carpet appearance together.
The couple appeared affectionate throughout the event, with Grande gently rubbing Alvarez’s stomach before they later walked hand in hand.
Grande and Alvarez first dated between 2015 and 2016 after meeting while he worked as one of her backup dancers. They rekindled their relationship in June, following her split from Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, 34.
Her premiere appearance came after she announced in August that she planned to take a break from public life amid continued scrutiny of her weight.
Although there had been speculation that she might sit out the movie’s promotional campaign after announcing a hiatus at the end of her Eternal Sunshine tour, which concluded in September, Grande arrived at Wednesday’s premiere in full force.
Ariana Grande, 33, made her red carpet debut with boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, 35, at Wednesday’s New York premiere of Focker-In-Law
Grande and Alvarez looked smitten as they posed together
The appearance followed Grande’s August announcement that she would be taking a break from public life amid scrutiny of her weight
Grande chose a delicate off-white gown with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt for the occasion.
Pastel pink eyeshadow and glossy lips added a subtle touch of sparkle to her look.
The Oscar-nominated actress wore her hair slicked back into a low ponytail and accessorized with diamond earrings.
The butterfly tattoo on her arm appeared to be covered with makeup, as it has been during several of her recent red carpet appearances.
Alvarez paired a black blazer and white button-up shirt with blue jeans, tucking in the shirt for the event.
Grande’s co-stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro were also among the stars attending the premiere.
Grande’s appearance came after her representatives said she would be stepping away from the limelight during the summer.
After completing her musical tour, the star withdrew from her planned West End role in Sunday In The Park with George to take a break from public appearances.
Grande and Alvarez leaned in for a kiss, appearing completely absorbed in the moment
Grande and Alvarez first dated from 2015 to 2016 after meeting while he worked as her backup dancer
The couple exchanged a tender look on the red carpet
They rekindled their romance in June after Grande split from Wicked co-star Ethan Slater
The Oscar-nominated actress wore a delicate off-white gown with a fitted bodice and flowing skirt
Grande styled her hair in a sleek low ponytail and wore diamond earrings
Pastel pink eyeshadow and lip gloss completed Grande’s look
Her butterfly tattoo appeared to have been concealed with makeup, as it has been at several recent premieres
The Grammy winner left her planned West End role in Sunday In The Park with George after finishing her musical tour to take a break from public appearances
‘Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,’ her spokesman told People in August.
The spokesman said Grande was looking forward ‘to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.’
Grande later explained that her career break had been ‘quietly planned a long time ago,’ stressing that it was not a decision made because ‘negativity was ruining things for me.’
Speaking onstage during one of her concerts, she said: ‘Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes.’
Fans voiced concern after the release of her Petal music video in July, in which she appeared notably thin, with her ribcage visibly protruding through her chest.
Grande has addressed comments about her weight several times over the years and has maintained that she is healthy despite continued speculation about her changing appearance.
In 2023, she notably told fans that the appearance they viewed as her ‘healthiest,’ around 2016 to 2018, was actually the opposite.
Elsewhere on Wednesday’s red carpet, Grande’s co-star Robert De Niro, 83, arrived with his wife, Tiffany Chen.
Robert De Niro, 83, attended the premiere with his wife, Tiffany Chen
Ben Stiller, 60, reprised his role as Gaylord ‘Greg’ Focker and attended with his wife, Christine Taylor, 55
Taylor turned heads in a brown lace gown with coordinating heels
The couple’s 21-year-old son, Quinlin Dempsey Stiller, also attended
Stiller later caught up with Owen Wilson, 57, who plays Kevin Rawley in the film
Wilson opted for a light tan suit with a blue shirt
Wilson also posed with his young co-stars Ben Lewis Doherty and Ora Abercrombie
Blythe Danner, 83, looked elegant in a brown sweater and matching skirt; she plays De Niro’s wife in the film
Rosanna Arquette, 67, brought her distinctive style to the premiere
Mike Myers and Jon Cryer were also among the stars at the packed premiere
For De Niro, the event marked his first public appearance since the death of his former partner, model Toukie Smith, at age 74.
Smith died in a New York City hospital on November 4 after a ‘long, courageous battle’ with multiple sclerosis, according to a statement from her and De Niro’s 31-year-old twins, Airyn and Julian Henry De Niro.
De Niro and Smith were in an on-and-off relationship from 1988 until 1996.
Stiller, 60, attended the premiere with his wife, Christine Taylor, 55, while their 21-year-old son, Quinlin Dempsey Stiller, was also present.
Stiller later posed with Owen Wilson, 57, who plays Kevin Rawley in the movie.
Blythe Danner, 83, the mother of Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow, looked stylish in a brown sweater and matching skirt. She portrays De Niro’s wife in the film.
Grande recently said she was ‘so honored’ to join Focker-In-Law, adding that she ‘fell in love’ with the script and the opportunity to work alongside De Niro and Stiller.
She plays Olivia Jones, who is romantically involved with Henry, portrayed by Skyler Gisondo, the son of Greg and Pam Focker, played by Stiller and Teri Polo.
Jones is a former FBI negotiator meeting her boyfriend’s family for the first time.
While the difficult-to-impress patriarch Jack Byrnes, played by De Niro, warms to her surprisingly quickly, Greg, her potential future father-in-law, remains suspicious.
Focker In-Law will arrive in theaters on November 25
Meet The Parents became a box office hit and led to two sequels, Meet The Fockers in 2004 and Little Fockers in 2010 (De Niro and Stiller pictured in a 2000 still)
The original 2000 film cast De Niro as grouchy, suspicious CIA veteran Jack Byrnes and Stiller as his nervous future son-in-law, Gaylord ‘Greg’ Focker.
Danner played Jack’s wife, Dina, while Polo portrayed their daughter Pam, whose marriage to Greg triggers a series of chaotic and comedic in-law encounters.
Meet The Parents was a box office success, spawning Meet The Fockers in 2004 and Little Fockers in 2010.
The two sequels prominently featured Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman as Greg’s parents, Roz and Bernie Focker.
Wilson had a supporting role in all three original films as Pam’s still-smitten ex-boyfriend, Kevin Rawley.
Focker In-Law will be released in theaters on November 25.
