Photo: Instagram
Are they back together?
By Emily Blackwood — Written on Mar 12, 2019
Ariana Grande was recently spotted out and about with an ex-boyfriend, so naturally, everyone is interested. While it's very possible that the meeting was strictly platonic, fans can't help but wonder if something more is going on between the pop singer and her ex-boyfriend, Graham Phillips.
The former couple was photographed together in New York City on Sunday while on their way to an Italian dinner at Carbone, a known celebrity hotspot. She was dressed to the nines in a mini skirt, thigh-high boots and an oversized coat while Phillips kept it a little more casual.
Grande and Phillips dated for almost three years after they met on the set of 13, a Broadway musical. They broke up in 2011 but still remain close friends. And fans shouldn't get too excited about the reunion; Grande was spotted with her other ex, Big Sean, only two weeks ago. And he got a shoutout in her break-up anthem, "Thank U, Next," while Phillips did not.
"She's single," an insider told E! News. "She's seen some of her exes, but she's not dating any of them. She's just catching up with people that she once cared about and had a connection with."
So who is Graham Phillips? Here's what we know about Ariana Grande's ex-boyfriend.
1. He started acting at the age of nine.
Phillips got his start in showbiz very early. Born in Orange County, California, he quickly started acting in plays and even made his way to Broadway where he met Grande on the set of 13.
Before that, he played the title role in The Little Prince, which The New York Times called "smashing." He went on to the world premiere of An American Tragedy at the Metropolitan Opera and performed in many other plays and live shows throughout his career.
2. He then made his way to television.
Phillips landed the co-starring role in the film Evan Almighty, acting alongside Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman and Lauren Graham. He was featured in many different TV shows, including The Good Wife , which he was nominated with along with the rest of the cast for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Dramatic Series from the Screen Actors Guild Award.
Currently, he plays Nick. St. Clair in the second season of Riverdale.
3. They've been friends since they've broken up.
Even though it's been a decade since their breakup, Phillips and Grande remain important parts of each other's lives. She even posted a couple of videos of them hanging out prior to them being seen in NYC together.
The Instagram videos showed them singing a duet of "As Long as You're Mine" from Wicked, and singing "It That's What It Is," with their fellow 13 co-star Elizabeth Gillies.
Sources told E! News that Grande is focused more on her career than boys right now.
"She's in Pennsylvania now rehearsing for her tour and that's her main focus. She isn't thinking about one particular guy or that aspect of her life. She's working very hard to get ready for her shows."
4. He thought her whole "Donutgate" of 2015 was funny.
When Grande infamously licked that donut in 2015 and put it back, many people were angry. But not Phillips.
“I think the whole thing is hilarious,” he told PEOPLE. “I feel like it’s been so blown out of proportion. I guess that’s just the nature of the business. She’s such a sweet girl. It’s tough. We all say things that we regret. I don’t think it speaks to her character at all.”
5. He graduated from Princeton.
Phillips graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in history from Princeton University in June of 2017. He said one of his Good Wife co-stars pushed him to go.
“She went to Sarah Lawrence, and her argument was that your acting will always be best served when you have more in your arsenal,” he told PEOPLE in 2016. “The more you know, the easier it is to understand people and be more empathetic. So, I don’t regret the decision at all.”
Emily Blackwood is a writer and editor living in California. She covers all things news, pop culture, and true crime.