People love a tidy narrative. In the world of celebrity gossip, we usually want a villain and a hero, or a "happily ever after" that makes sense on a timeline. But the reality of Ariana Grande and Mac Miller (Malcolm McCormick) was never tidy. It was messy, beautiful, devastating, and deeply human.
Most people remember the "The Way" music video from 2013 where they shared that first onscreen kiss. It felt like a rom-com. Two young, talented kids flirting in a room full of balloons. But that wasn't the start of a romance; it was the start of a six-year friendship that laid the foundation for everything else. Malcolm was the person who actually helped Ariana find her sound. Honestly, without him pushing her toward R&B-influenced pop, the Ariana we know today might not even exist.
The Shift From Friends to "Soulmates"
They didn't start dating until 2016. Three years after that first collab, they showed up at the VMAs together, and suddenly, the internet lost its mind. It felt right. He was this introspective, soulful rapper from Pittsburgh, and she was the biggest pop star on the planet.
But behind the scenes, things weren't just red carpets and Instagram posts. Malcolm was struggling. Hard.
If you’ve ever loved someone battling addiction, you know how it goes. It’s a constant state of high-alert. During their two-year relationship, Ariana was often his "stabilizing force." His close friend Shane Powers once said on his podcast that she was "unbelievably involved" in helping him get sober. She would blow up the phones of his producers, like Big Jerm, just trying to find out where he was when he went MIA for a few days. She cared. A lot.
Then 2017 happened. The Manchester bombing.
When that tragedy struck, Malcolm dropped everything. He was the one waiting on the tarmac when she landed back in the States, looking absolutely shattered. He canceled his own festival dates to be by her side at the One Love Manchester benefit. That kind of trauma bonds people in a way that’s almost impossible to break, which is why their eventual split in May 2018 felt like such a shock to the system.
The Toxic Narrative and the Breakup
Why did they break up?
Ariana eventually had to set the record straight on Twitter after some "fan" tried to blame her for Malcolm’s DUI shortly after their split. She called the relationship "toxic." That’s a heavy word, but it’s real. You can love someone with your whole heart and still realize you can’t be their mother or their babysitter. You can’t "fix" someone who isn't ready to be fixed.
The timeline moved fast after that. She got engaged to Pete Davidson. Malcolm released Swimming. Then, September 7, 2018, changed everything.
The news of Malcolm’s accidental overdose at age 26 was a gut punch to the industry, but for Ariana, it was a nightmare. She didn't just lose an ex; she lost her "dearest friend." The vitriol she faced online was disgusting—people actually blamed her for his death, forcing her to disable her Instagram comments for a long time.
How His Legacy Lives on in Her Music
If you listen closely to her work post-2018, Malcolm is everywhere. He’s the "angel" in "thank u, next." He’s the subject of "imagine," where she describes a simple, domestic love that is now "unattainable."
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- "Ghostin" is perhaps the most heartbreaking song she’s ever written. It’s literally about crying over Malcolm while being in bed with Pete Davidson.
- "Cinderella" was his song for her. She confirmed it.
- "My Favorite Part" is their second big collab, and you can hear the genuine affection in their harmonies. It’s not forced.
Even in 2025 and 2026, Ariana still mentions him. In a recent interview, she credited him for helping her "shed" her Nickelodeon image and embrace her natural self. She still takes care of his dog, Myron. That tells you more about their bond than any tabloid headline ever could.
What We Can Actually Learn From This
Their story isn't just a tragedy; it's a lesson in the complexity of grief. You can move on to new relationships—like she has with Ethan Slater—and still carry the weight of a past love. It doesn't mean the new love is "less than," and it doesn't mean the old love is forgotten.
If you're looking for a takeaway, it’s probably this:
- Boundaries aren't a lack of love. Leaving a "toxic" situation because of addiction is an act of self-preservation, not a betrayal.
- Grief isn't linear. You don't just "get over" losing someone who was your best friend for years.
- Support systems matter. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, reaching out to experts (like the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP) is more effective than trying to handle it entirely on your own.
Malcolm McCormick was a brilliant artist who was more than just a "celebrity boyfriend." Ariana Grande is a person who lived through a very public trauma. Their connection was a rare, creative spark that gave us some of the best music of the decade, and that’s the part worth remembering.
To truly honor Malcolm’s legacy, spend some time with Circles or Swimming. Don't just look at the photos of them together; listen to the music he made when he was trying to find his own balance. That’s where the real story lives.