Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not represent or speak for Her Campus UConn.
Earlier in September, rapper and songwriter Malcolm McCormick, better known as Mac Miller, was found dead in his California home.
It was speculated that he died as a result of drug overdose. However, within hours of his death becoming public, people took to Twitter and Instagram to say that Ariana Grande was to blame for his death.
Grande and Miller dated for about two years before breaking up this past May, however they each implied that the breakup was amicable and they would continue to be friends.
Grande posted on Instagram:
“unconditional love is not selfish. It is wanting the best for that person even if at the moment, it’s not you.”
This post implies to fans that their relationship was not “the best” for either of them, and thus the breakup was meant to help each of them, not to maliciously hurt Miller.
Shortly after their breakup, Grande began dating actor Pete Davidson, and Miller crashed his car and got a DUI.
News outlets portrayed Miller in a positive light; TMZ went so far as to include a police statement claiming he was “the most polite and nice intoxicated person we’ve ever seen”, despite the crimes he committed.
However, Grande was blamed for his crash by people on social media, with fans mostly posting things like, “if she hadn’t have left him, this wouldn’t have happened”.
When Grande got engaged to Davidson, social media users berated her yet again on Miller’s behalf, despite the fact that he emphasized he is happy for her and her new relationship.
When Mac Miller’s death was reported, even the nature of some news headlines placed blame and guilt on Grande. Daily Mail UK wrote, “Ariana Grande’s ex Mac Miller, 26, who was found dead in LA…”.
Additionally, Miller was with friends the night before and morning of his death, and no drugs had been found in his house when police arrived. Reports say that guests may have wiped the house clean of any evidence, delaying the time before paramedics were called.
No one is to blame for Mac Miller’s death other than his inner “demons” that Grande refers to as his history of addiction. Grande should not have to feel apologetic that she couldn’t “fix him”, nor should she feel like leaving the relationship because of his drug addiction is wrong.
Mac Miller had been struggling with addiction for many years. Ariana Grande had every right to leave and pursue new relationships.
It’s time for society to stop blaming women for consequences of men’s actions.