Singer Ariana Grande is currently receiving criticism after choosing a notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer as her ideal dinner companion in the podcast of Penn Badgley – ‘Podcrushed’. Such remarks have provoked heated negative reactions, especially from the relatives of the victims who fell to Dahmer’s hands.
In an interview on the podcast, the host posed a question to Grande concerning who she’d want as a dinner date, living or dead. When the “Thank U, Next” singer said ‘I choose life,’ then listeners were caught off guard when she picked Dahmer, the serial killer and a sex offender who assaulted Milwaukee in the late 1970s and the early 1990s. Dahmer, convicted of the heinous killings of seventeen men and boys, is still considered one of the country’s many brutal criminals.
Such statements have been condemned and considered as insensitive especially by the families of the victims of Dahmer. Anthony ‘Tony’ Hughes’ mother, Shirley Hughes, who suffering from this man’s demise at the hand of Dahmer can also be said to have disputed with Grande’s statements.
Recently, during the interview, Shirley Hughes said that she still couldn’t make sense of all the fuss: “To me, it looks like she is sick in her mind; it is not pretty or humorous to tell people that they would have perhaps bolted for dinner with him; it is not something one should tell the youth, which she said she did.” Tony Hughes, a 31 years old deaf man was one of the victims of Dahmer’s deadly actions in 1991.
Reaction to the comments made by Grande has been uninhibited and quite fierce as you will read from this article. Social media has been filled with criticism, where by many people were able to express their disappointments and disbelief that a personality who had many followers, most of which are the youths, was able to take such a sensitive subject and make it as a joke.
🚨 ESCLARECIMENTO: Ariana Grande NÃO admira Jeffrey Dahmer e seus atos. Muito menos gostaria de um encontro romântico com o mesmo.
Desde nova, a artista nutre um interesse por terror, crimes reais e serial killers, como diversas outras pessoas NORMAIS. E a escolha de Dahmer na… pic.twitter.com/24cmhVLtIz
— Info Ariana (@infoari) June 28, 2024
Finally, Schwartz claims that the fans persons and critics solely target Grande for being insensitive to the criminal and committing such heinous acts that impacted numerous victims positively. They note that Actions of Dahmer cannot be discussed as a joke or something humorous because the suffering is still felt by families of the victims.
“Ariana Grande has a responsibility to her fans, especially the young and impressionable ones, to be more mindful about the messages she sends,” tweeted one user. “Making a monster like Dahmer seem intriguing or desirable is beyond unacceptable.”
Grande tried to clarify her remarks in a message she posted on social media in reaction to the criticism. She clarified that her decision was not meant to elevate Dahmer or his deeds, but rather to spark conversation and reflection on the nature of evil and the psychology of those who commit it.
Grande added, “I apologize to the families of the victims and to anyone else who was hurt by my comments. I realize now that my words were insensitive.” “I never intended to inflict suffering or to minimize the heinous crimes that Jeffrey Dahmer committed.”
The family of one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims is slamming #ArianaGrande for once saying she’d be interested in having a sit down with the late serial killer.
Read the statement: https://t.co/b9lRfPK4P1 pic.twitter.com/L3LW1wKTCD
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 28, 2024
Despite her apology, many feel that the damage has already been done. Advocacy groups and public figures have called for greater sensitivity and awareness from celebrities, urging them to consider the impact of their words on those affected by violence and tragedy.
The controversy surrounding Grande’s comments serves as a stark reminder of the power and responsibility that comes with celebrity status. As public figures, the messages they convey can have far-reaching consequences, underscoring the need for careful consideration and empathy in their public statements.
For now, the pop star will have to navigate the fallout from her ill-advised comments, with many hoping that this incident will prompt a deeper reflection on the importance of sensitivity and respect in discussions about true crime and its victims.
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