If you were online between 2013 and 2018, you basically couldn't escape the gravitational pull of Ariana Grande and Mac Miller. They were the industry’s favorite "it" couple that nobody saw coming, and then, suddenly, everyone was rooting for them. But the question of whether they dated isn't just a simple "yes." It is a long, winding, and eventually heartbreaking story of two people who were deeply in love but caught in a storm of timing, fame, and personal demons.
The short answer? Yes. They absolutely dated. They were together officially for about two years, but they were in each other’s orbits for much longer than that.
✨ Don't miss: Tyler the Creator Feet: What Most People Get Wrong
It All Started With a Twitter DM
Honestly, the way they met is pretty much a modern-day fairy tale for the digital age. Back in late 2012, Ariana was still the girl from Victorious trying to make it as a serious singer. She tweeted out asking fans what they were thankful for, and Mac Miller—already a rising star in the rap world—hit her back.
This led to their first-ever collaboration: a cover of "Baby It's Cold Outside."
Shortly after, they dropped "The Way" in 2013. If you watch that music video now, the chemistry is just... it's screaming at you. They shared a kiss at the end of the video, which immediately sent the internet into a tailspin. Everyone wanted to know: did Ariana Grande date Mac Miller right then?
At the time, they both said no. Ariana was dating Jai Brooks, and Mac was in a long-term relationship with his high school sweetheart, Nomi Leasure. They were just "homies," as Mac famously put it. But looking back, it's clear the foundation was being laid.
2016: The Year Everything Changed
Fast forward three years. Ariana had become a global pop titan, and Mac had evolved into one of the most respected lyricists in hip-hop. In the summer of 2016, the rumors started bubbling up again. They were spotted at Disneyland. Then they were seen grabbing sushi in West Hollywood, looking very much like a couple.
Ariana finally confirmed the relationship on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in September 2016. She was visibly flustered, turning red and hiding in her sweater, but she admitted they were together.
✨ Don't miss: Liz Plank Justin Baldoni Explained: What Really Happened to the Man Enough Duo
For the next two years, they were inseparable. They performed together at Coachella, they posted goofy Instagram stories, and they supported each other through some of the darkest moments imaginable. When the tragic Manchester bombing happened in 2017, Mac was the one waiting on the tarmac to hug Ariana the second her plane landed back in the States. He cancelled his own tour dates to be by her side at the One Love Manchester benefit concert. That kind of devotion is rare.
Why Did They Break Up?
This is where things get heavy. In May 2018, the news broke that they had split. On the surface, the "official" word was that their schedules were too busy. But we all know that's usually code for something deeper.
Shortly after the breakup, Mac was involved in a DUI accident. When a fan tried to blame Ariana for Mac’s spiral, she didn't hold back. She posted a heartbreakingly honest note explaining that she had spent years trying to support his sobriety and praying for his balance, but that she couldn't "babysit" a grown man.
"I am not a babysitter or a mother and no woman should feel that they need to be," she wrote. "I have cared for him and tried to support his sobriety & prayed for his balance for years."
It was a raw look at the reality of loving someone struggling with addiction. It wasn't that the love died; it was that the relationship had become "toxic" because of the weight of Mac's substance abuse issues. They stayed friends, but they couldn't be together.
The Tragic Aftermath and "Thank U, Next"
We all know what happened next. Ariana got into a whirlwind romance and engagement with Pete Davidson just weeks later. Then, in September 2018, the world stopped: Mac Miller passed away from an accidental overdose.
The impact on Ariana was visible. She broke off her engagement with Pete shortly after. When she released "Thank U, Next" later that year, the lyrics about Mac were the most poignant of all:
“Wish I could say 'thank you' to Malcolm, 'cause he was an angel.”
She didn't just date him. He was a defining part of her life and her music. To this day, fans find Easter eggs in her albums—like the track "ghostin" or the "Raindrops" intro—that seem to be direct tributes to him. Even in her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine, fans are still finding nods to the "divine feminine" energy Mac often spoke about.
What We Can Learn From Their Story
Looking back at the timeline, it’s easy to get lost in the gossip, but the real story is about the complexity of human connection.
👉 See also: Luna Lauren Velez Feet: What Fans Often Get Wrong About Her Iconic Style
- Timing is everything. As Ariana told Cosmopolitan, they weren't ready for each other when they first met at 19.
- Love isn't a cure. You can love someone with your whole heart, but you can't "fix" their internal battles.
- Grief isn't linear. Ariana’s public journey through the loss of Mac shows that moving on doesn't mean forgetting.
If you're looking to dive deeper into their musical connection, listen to "My Favorite Part" from Mac's album The Divine Feminine. It’s a snapshot of a moment when everything was good between them. It’s the sound of two people who truly, deeply enjoyed each other's company before the world got in the way.
The reality is that Ariana Grande and Mac Miller had a bond that transcended a simple celebrity dating headline. It was a formative, messy, beautiful, and ultimately tragic chapter for both of them.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to support Mac Miller’s legacy, you can check out The Mac Miller Fund, which supports young musicians and programs for substance abuse recovery. Musically, listening to his posthumous album Circles provides a lot of context to his headspace during his final years. For Ariana fans, revisiting the Sweetener era offers a glimpse into the peak of their public relationship and the support they offered one other.