Ariana Grande made rare comments about her late ex-boyfriend Mac Miller who passed away, at age 26, in 2018 from an accidental drug overdose at his Studio City home after taking fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.
The Grammy-nominated Pittsburgh rapper died four months after splitting with the 32-year-old Wicked: For Good actress, whom he had dated for two years but knew as far back as 2012.
At that time, Grande (born Butera) was a red-haired Nickelodeon child star headlining Victorious and Sam & Cat, but she wanted to transition into a full-blown pop star.
‘I’ve never talked about this, but actually Malcom, who you might know as Mac, encouraged me to be myself,’ the two-time Grammy winner revealed on THR’s Awards Chatter podcast.
‘And that it was okay to shed that character and embrace my brown hair and make R&B-influenced pop music and separate and do the brave thing. I’ve never said that, but it was a great influence. I’m very thankful for that.’
Grande famously enlisted Miller (born Malcolm McCormick) to rap on her 2013 debut single The Way ‘not only because he was perfect for the song, but I also felt like I had him to thank for finding my sound.’
Ariana Grande made rare comments about her late ex-boyfriend Mac Miller who passed away, at age 26, in 2018 from an accidental drug overdose at his Studio City home after taking fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol (pictured in 2018)
Three of the Balloonerism hip-hop star’s former drug dealers received prison sentences as a result of the tragedy – Ryan Reavis, Stephen Walter and Cameron Pettit.
The Oscar-nominated actress’ new interview was published on Tuesday, but she technically taped it on December 5 at Chapman University’s Folino Theater in front of 500 film students.
Grande is now dating her Wicked castmate Ethan Slater, and she and onscreen leading man Jonathan Bailey announced they’ll reunite for a West End production of Sunday In The Park With George, which opens summer 2027 at the Barbican Centre in London.
The Florida-born belter and her Defying Gravity duet partner Cynthia Erivo will next compete for the best pop duo/group performance trophy at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, which air February 1 on CBS/Paramount+.
For her role as Galinda ‘Glinda’ Upland, Grande is nominated for the outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role trophy at the newly-renamed 32nd Actor Awards, which air March 1 on Netflix.
The Kamala Harris supporter faces heavy competition against Marty Supreme actress Odessa A’zion, Weapons’ Amy Madigan, One Battle After Another’s Teyana Taylor and Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku.
Speaking of which, Madigan previously beat Grande for the Critics Choice Award and Taylor took home the Golden Globe Award.
‘When I’m talking about her journey, I have to really specify, because there have been certain moments in our lives that are really adjacent,’ the R.E.M. Beauty founder told THR.
The Grammy-nominated Pittsburgh rapper died four months after splitting with the 32-year-old Wicked: For Good actress, whom he had dated for two years but knew as far back as 2012
At that time, Grande (born Butera) was a red-haired Nickelodeon child star headlining Victorious and Sam & Cat, but she wanted to transition into a full-blown pop starÂ
The two-time Grammy winner told THR: ‘Actually Malcom, who you might know as Mac, encouraged me to be myself. And that it was okay to shed that character and embrace my brown hair and make R&B-influenced pop music and separate and do the brave thing. I’ve never said that, but it was a great influence. I’m very thankful for that’ (pictured Sunday)
Grande famously enlisted Miller (born Malcolm McCormick) to rap on her 2013 debut single The Way ‘not only because he was perfect for the song, but I also felt like I had him to thank for finding my sound’
The Florida-born belter and her Defying Gravity duet partner Cynthia Erivo will next compete for the best pop duo/group performance trophy at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, which air February 1 on CBS/Paramount+
For her role as Galinda ‘Glinda’ Upland, Grande is nominated for the outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role trophy at the newly-renamed 32nd Actor Awards, which air March 1 on Netflix
The R.E.M. Beauty founder previously lost the Critics Choice Award to Weapons star Amy Madigan (L) and One Battle After Another’s Teyana Taylor (R) took home the Golden GlobeÂ
‘I’ve experienced a lot of grief. I’ve experienced a lot of loss. And I also know what it feels like to perform through it, as a coping mechanism. I think that’s kind of what she’s doing a lot in this second movie especially.’
Grande is scheduled to kick off her 41-date The Eternal Sunshine Tour on June 6 at Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA.
It will mark the SESAC Songwriter of the Year’s fourth arena tour and her first tour in seven years.
