Honestly, if you go on TikTok or Twitter today, you’ll see the same three or four clips of Mac Miller and Ariana Grande. Usually, it's that video of them performing "The Way" on Ellen where they both look like they’re glowing from the inside out. Or maybe it’s the clip from One Love Manchester where he’s looking at her like she’s the only person in the world.
But the internet has a way of turning real, messy, human lives into a two-minute aesthetic.
Most people think of their story as this perfect, tragic indie movie. The truth? It was a lot more complicated than the fan edits suggest. It wasn't just a "celebrity couple" thing. It was two kids who grew up together in the music industry, propping each other up while the world tried to tear them down. Even now, in 2026, Ariana is still dropping little breadcrumbs about how much Malcolm influenced the person she is today.
Why Mac Miller and Ariana Grande were never just a "PR couple"
The narrative usually starts in 2016 when they went public, but that’s totally wrong. They met in 2012. Ariana was 19. Mac was 20.
Think about where they were then. Ariana was still the girl from Nickelodeon with the bright red hair, trying to prove she could actually sing. Mac was the "frat rap" kid from Pittsburgh trying to prove he was a serious artist. They were both outsiders in a way.
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The Twitter DM that started it all
It didn't start with a high-level meeting between managers. It started because Mac literally slid into her DMs. He reached out on Twitter to ask her to record a Christmas song. They ended up doing a cover of "Baby It’s Cold Outside" under his jazz alias, Larry Lovestein.
If you listen to that recording, you can hear them giggling. It’s raw. It’s not "pop star" polished.
When "The Way" dropped in 2013, the chemistry was so obvious it was uncomfortable. That kiss at the end of the music video? Mac later admitted he didn't even know it was going to happen. The director just told them to go for it. But even then, they didn't date. Not yet. They were both with other people. They were just "the homies."
The "Divine Feminine" Era: More than just a title
By the time 2016 rolled around, things shifted. Mac released The Divine Feminine, and if you’ve ever listened to "Cinderella," you know it’s a nine-minute odyssey about his feelings for her.
They weren't just dating; they were collaborating on a level most couples can't touch. Mac wasn't just her boyfriend. He was the person telling her to stop dyeing her hair that Nickelodeon red and just be herself. In a recent 2026 interview on the Awards Chatter podcast, Ariana finally admitted that Mac was the one who gave her the courage to "shed the character." He told her she didn't need the costumes or the persona to be a star.
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- 2012: The first Twitter interaction.
- 2013: "The Way" peaks at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- 2016: They're spotted at a sushi date in West Hills; the relationship goes official.
- 2017: The Manchester tragedy. Mac meets her on the tarmac, a moment captured in those grainy paparazzi photos that still break hearts.
- 2018: The breakup in May, followed by Mac’s passing in September.
The toxicity of the "Saving Him" narrative
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. When they broke up in May 2018, the internet turned on Ariana.
People blamed her for his relapse. They called her "heartless" for moving on to Pete Davidson so quickly. It was ugly. But Ariana clapped back with a truth that a lot of people didn't want to hear: You cannot fix a person who is struggling with addiction if they aren't ready to fix themselves.
She tweeted about how she had "prayed for his balance for years" and supported his sobriety. To blame a woman for a man’s inability to "keep his sh*t together" is a toxic trope that needs to stay in the past.
Shane Powers, a close friend of Mac’s, eventually came out and defended her. He said nobody was more "ready to go to the wall" for Mac’s sobriety than Ariana. She wasn't the cause of his demons; she was the one trying to help him fight them.
The hidden tributes you probably missed
If you look at Ariana's work post-2018, Mac is everywhere. It’s not just the "Wish I could say thank you to Malcolm" line in "thank u, next." It's way more subtle than that.
The "Crickets" Theory
On her song "Positions," there’s a line: "Heaven sent you to me." Immediately after that line, you hear crickets chirping. Why does that matter? Because Mac Miller had an unreleased song called "Crickets." It’s a tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nod to him being her angel.
The dog, Myron
Then there’s Myron. After Mac passed, Ariana adopted his pit bull mix. In the "we can’t be friends" music video from 2024, there’s a scene where she’s holding a dog that looks remarkably like Myron. It’s her way of saying that even when the person is gone, the love—and the responsibilities of that love—stays.
Eternal Sunshine
Her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine is named after one of Mac’s favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. He talked about that movie in interviews for years. By naming her album after it, she wasn't just making a pop culture reference. She was acknowledging a shared language they had.
What really happened behind the scenes?
There’s a lot of talk about "unreleased albums." Mac once mentioned they had enough material for a full project. While most of that will probably never see the light of day—and honestly, maybe it shouldn't—leaks like "Talk To Me" give us a glimpse of what they were like in the studio.
They challenged each other. Mac pushed her toward R&B and jazz. She pushed him toward melody and structure.
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Some fans on Reddit have theorized that Mac actually broke up with her, not the other way around. They point to Nomi Leasure (Mac’s long-term ex) and certain blog posts. But honestly? It doesn't matter who ended it. What matters is the "unconditional love" Ariana mentioned in her breakup post. You can love someone deeply and still realize that staying with them is destroying you.
The legacy in 2026
It’s been over seven years since Mac passed. In 2026, his influence on the music industry is arguably bigger than ever. You hear his "swimming" style in almost every Lo-fi or jazz-rap artist on Spotify.
And Ariana? She’s a different person. She’s gone through a marriage, a divorce, and a massive career shift into film. But she still carries him. Whether it’s wearing his old hoodies or the subtle samples in her tracks, the connection hasn't faded.
How to honor their story correctly
If you’re a fan, the best way to respect what they had isn't by making "sad girl" edits.
- Listen to the music: Go back to The Divine Feminine and Yours Truly. Listen to how they harmonized.
- Support the Mac Miller Fund: This supports young artists in Pittsburgh, keeping his actual legacy alive.
- Stop the blame game: Recognize that addiction is a disease, not a failure of a partner's love.
The relationship between Mac Miller and Ariana Grande wasn't a tragedy for the sake of entertainment. It was a real-time lesson in growth, grief, and the way two people can fundamentally change the trajectory of each other's lives.
To really understand their impact, start by listening to "My Favorite Part" followed by "ghostin." You’ll hear the transition from the joy of finding "the one" to the crushing weight of losing them. It’s not a fun listen, but it’s the most honest look at their story you'll ever get.
Check out the Mac Miller Fund's official site to see how his family is continuing his work with underprivileged youth in the arts.