The mother of one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims has publicly criticized Ariana Grande for her recent comments about the infamous serial killer. Grande, who appeared on the Podcrushed podcast on June 12, made a controversial remark that has since sparked backlash. During the interview, she was asked about her “dream dinner date,” and her response has left many people, including the family of Dahmer’s victims, deeply disturbed.
Grande recalled a moment from her past when she was asked the same question at a fan convention. She admitted that she had a fascination with serial killers when she was younger and mentioned Dahmer as someone she would have liked to meet. “I was infatuated with serial killers when I was younger,” Grande said. “It was in between me being Cat [on the teen sitcom Sam & Cat] and pop stuff, so it was like a younger group, and they were with parents, and someone said, ‘If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be?'”
Grande continued, “I was like, ‘Oh honey, you’re so cute.’ I asked my parents if I could give the ‘real’ answer, and they said, ‘Sure, what’s the answer?’ I was like, ‘I mean, Jeffrey Dahmer is pretty fascinating. I think I would have loved to have met him. You know, maybe with a third party or someone involved. But I have questions.'”
These comments did not sit well with Shirley Hughes, the mother of Tony Hughes, one of Dahmer’s victims. Tony Hughes, who was deaf and non-verbal, was 31 years old when he was killed by Dahmer in 1991. Shirley Hughes expressed her outrage to TMZ, stating, “To me, it seems like she’s sick in her mind. It’s not fancy or funny to say you would have wanted to do dinner with him. It’s also not something you should say to young people, which she says she did.”
Tony’s sister, Barbara Hughes-Holt, also voiced her disapproval, stating that Grande’s remarks glamorize Dahmer. She expressed a desire for Grande to apologize, hoping it would help her fans understand the gravity of the situation. “Unfortunately, until it happens to her and her family, she just doesn’t know what we have been through,” Barbara said.
Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the “Milwaukee Cannibal,” was responsible for the murders of 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. His crimes involved torture, dismemberment, sexual assault, and cannibalism. Fourteen of Dahmer’s victims were men of color. He was sentenced to 16 life terms in prison but was beaten to death by a fellow inmate in 1994.
This is not the first time Grande has faced backlash for her comments. In 2015, she made headlines for a video captured by a California donut shop’s security camera. In the video, Grande licked a tray of donuts and made controversial remarks about Americans. “What the (expletive) is that? I hate Americans. I hate America,” she said. Grande later apologized, stating, “I am EXTREMELY proud to be an American and I’ve always made it clear that I love my country. What I said in a private moment with my friend, who was buying the donuts, was taken out of context and I am sorry for not using more discretion with my choice of words.”
Shirley Hughes has previously criticized the media and entertainment industry for profiting off the tragedy of Dahmer’s victims. She spoke out against the Golden Globes when Evan Peters won the award for best actor in a limited or anthology series for his portrayal of Dahmer in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” “It’s a shame that people can take our tragedy and make money,” she told TMZ. “The victims never saw a cent. We go through these emotions every day.”
Hughes also criticized the Netflix series itself, stating, “I don’t see how they can use our names and put stuff out like that out there.”
Grande’s comments have reignited the pain and trauma for the families of Dahmer’s victims. Shirley Hughes hopes that Grande will understand the hurtful impact of her words and consider the feelings of those who have suffered because of Dahmer’s heinous crimes.
Source: TMZ, UNILAD, USA TODAY
