NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Mac Miller's home 'swept clean' of drugs despite suspected overdose

By Megan Sheets
Daily Mail·
8 Sep, 2018 08:22 PM10 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Rapper Mac Miller was found on Friday in his San Fernando Valley home from an apparent drug overdose.

The sudden death of Mac Miller - due to a suspected drug overdose - is raising questions after police found his home almost completely clear of drugs.

The rapper's body was found in a bedroom at his home in the San Fernando Valley outside Los Angeles around noon yesterday, href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6144551/Mac-Miller-dead-26-Ariana-Grandes-rapper-ex-dies-apparent-drug-overdose.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail reported.

He was believed to have died from a drug overdose, but today police found just a tiny amount of white powder in his home, according to TMZ.

Sources told the website that Miller's home had been virtually 'swept clean' which they say would make 'no sense' as someone who had overdosed would not have the foresight to clear their house of paraphernalia.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics yesterday, according to a report by TMZ.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Despite the suspected drug overdose, dispatch audio from when a male friend alerted authorities describes him as having suffered a cardiac arrest.

A statement from Miller's family said: "Malcolm McCormick, known and adored by fans as Mac Miller, has tragically passed away at the age of 26. He was a bright light in this world for his family, friends and fans. Thank you for your prayers. Please respect our privacy. There are no further details as to the cause of his death at this time."

The scene outside Miller's home has been chaotic yet somber following the discovery of his body midday Friday.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Soon after the 911 call came in, LAPD and Fire officials swarmed the scene. Initial reports have said there doesn't appear to be anything criminal.

Just after 2pm local time Friday a coroner arrived at Miller's Studio City home, and the body was seen being carted out just before 4pm.

Miller's death has widely been reported to be the result of an overdose, although that has not been confirmed.

Friends and family were photographed at the home outside of Los Angeles, including one unidentified woman who was seen collapsing in a fit of tears in the driveway as police tried to comfort her.

Discover more

Entertainment

Tributes flow for Mac Miller, dead at 26

07 Sep 08:55 PM
Entertainment

'Disgusting' fans blame Ariana for Mac Miller's death

07 Sep 10:30 PM
Entertainment

Mac Miller's haunting interview about overdosing

07 Sep 11:20 PM
World

Police officer who shot her black neighbour arrested for manslaughter

10 Sep 07:42 AM
Despite the suspected drug overdose, dispatch audio from when a male friend alerted authorities describes him as having suffered a cardiac arrest. Photo / Getty Images
Despite the suspected drug overdose, dispatch audio from when a male friend alerted authorities describes him as having suffered a cardiac arrest. Photo / Getty Images

NBA star Karl Anthony Towns, a close friend of Miller's, arrived on the scene soon after reports of the 26-year-old's death surfaced.

Towns tweeted: "Not only were you my favorite artist, you was one of my closest friends. The love we had was genuine and the moments we shared were filled with nothing but positivity and laughter. I love you man and I'm sure as hell gonna miss you @MacMiller. Rest easy my brotha (sic)."

Grande, who dated Miller seriously for nearly two years, has not publicly addressed news of Miller's death as of Friday evening.

Within minutes of the first reports being released the singer had disabled the comment section on her Instagram, which had already been flooded with comments about Miller's death.

Several of the comments saying things such as 'This is your fault' and 'you did this' were screenshotted and posted to Twitter.

The rapper famously helped Grande overcome her grief after a terrorist attack in the UK at her Manchester concert in May last year. That June he went back to England with her to put on a defiant performance at a tribute concert she arranged.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The pair remained firmly loved up until May this year when they suddenly parted ways.

Grande addressed the breakup in an Instagram story, writing of Miller: "I respect and adore [Malcolm] endlessly and am grateful to have him in my life in any form."

The message was written around a picture of the Dangerous Woman singer and the musician locked in an embrace while lying on a couch.

The full text read: "Hi! This is one of my best friends in the whole world and favorite people on the planet Malcolm McCormick. I respect and adore him endlessly and am grateful to have him in my life in any form, at all times regardless of how our relationship changes or what the universe holds for each of us! Unconditional love is not selfish. It is wanting the best for that person even if at the moment it's not you. I can't wait to know and support you forever and I'm so proud of you!"

Friends told TMZ they warned others not to bring up the relationship when talking to Miller because it was 'too touchy'.

Less than a week after the split, Miller - who has long battled substance abuse and addiction - was arrested for driving while drunk after he crashed his SUV and fled the scene.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After the arrest Ariana tweeted: 'Pls take care of yourself.'

Directly following the collision, many of Miller's fans hit out at his ex, accusing her of having caused him to fall of the wagon.

On May 21 Twitter user Elijah Flint wrote: 'Mac Miller totally his G wagon and getting a DUI after Ariana Grande dumped him for another dude after he poured his heart out on a ten song album to her called the divine feminine is just the most heartbreaking thing happening in Hollywood.'

Grande responded with a statement saying: "How absurd that you minimize female self-respect and self-worth by saying someone should stay in a toxic relationship because he wrote an album about them, which btw isn't the case (only Cinderella is ab me).

"I am not a babysitter or a mother and no woman should feel that they need to be. I have cared for him and tried to support his sobriety & prayed for his balance for years (and always will of course) but shaming/blaming women for a man's inability to keep his sh** together is a very major problem.

"Let's please stop doing that. of course i didn't share about how hard or scary it was while it was happening but it was. i will continue to pray from the bottom of my heart that he figures it all out and that any other woman in this position does as well."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

She ended with a heart.

Mac Miller and Ariana Grande. Photo / Getty Images.
Mac Miller and Ariana Grande. Photo / Getty Images.

Miller's battle with substance abuse over the past decade had been documented extensively both in the media and in his own music.

In multiple interviews Miller spoke about how he'd started using drugs including cocaine and opiates when he was just 15 years old.

During his 2012 Macadelic Tour, the artist became addicted to 'purple drank' or 'lean' - a drug concoction of promethazine and codeine - but managed to quit after noticing how it had taken over his life.

"I love lean; it's great. I was not happy and I was on lean very heavy. I was so f**ked up all the time it was bad. My friends couldn't even look at me the same. I was lost," he told Complex in 2013.

It wasn't until earlier this summer that his addiction problems made headlines again following the DUI crash.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The day before his death, Vulture published an interview in which Miller described feeling 'pressure' from his fame and his struggle with depression.

"I really wouldn't want just happiness. And I don't want just sadness either. I don't want to be depressed. I want to be able to have good days and bad days.

"I can't imagine not waking up sometimes and being like, 'I don't feel like doing s**t.' And then having days where you wake up and you feel on top of the world," he said.

Elsewhere, he said: 'There's pressure. A lot of times in my life I've put this pressure to hold myself to the standard of whatever I thought I was supposed to be, or how I was supposed to be perceived.

"It's the job. This is what I signed up for. So, you just have to not. You have to have your own reality and that has to be the driving force of your life.

"Do I wish that every single thing I did when I was 19 wasn't a discussion? Sure," he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Miller tweeted a link to the Vulture article along with a plug for his upcoming fall tour.

"Go get tickets for tour. Thundercat J.I.D. I'm bringing a band. The show is going to be special every night. I wish it started tomorrow. It starts October 27th," he wrote.

Twelve hours before his body was found, Miller also shared videos on his Instagram account from inside his home.

They showed a turntable which played his new song So It Goes, which has a morose chorus with the lyrics: "You could have the world in the palm of your hand, you still might drop it.

"And everybody wanna reach inside your pockets. I tell 'em red light, stop it. S**t, that give me more headaches than alcoholics."

In one verse he raps: "Nine lives, never die, f*** a heaven, I'm still gettin' high."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

There has been an outpouring of tributes from other members of the entertainment industry expressing shock and sadness at news of the Pittsburgh-born artist's death, including Chance the Rapper, Kehlani, Shawn Mendes and J Cole.

In one tweet Chance the Rapper wrote: "I don't know what to say Mac Miller took me on my second tour ever. But beyond helping me launch my career he was one of the sweetest guys I ever knew. Great man. I loved him for real. I'm completely broken. God bless him."

I dont know what to say Mac Miller took me on my second tour ever. But beyond helping me launch my career he was one of the sweetest guys I ever knew. Great man. I loved him for real. Im completely broken. God bless him.

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) September 7, 2018

A subsequent tweet read: "Its so crazy cause earl (sic) literally hit me up this morning him and vince were real friebds (sic) I met at a pivotal time in my life through mac. This shit hurts so bad. If you love someone male sure u tell em (sic)."

Fellow rapper J Cole tweeted: "This is a message for anybody in this game that's going through something. If you don't feel right, if you feel you have a substance problem, if you need a ear to vent to. If you uncomfortable talking to people around you. Please reach out to me."

This is a message for anybody in this game that’s going through something. If you don’t feel right, if you feel you have a substance problem, if you need a ear to vent to. If you uncomfortable talking to people around you. Please reach out to me.

— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 7, 2018

Overcome with emotion, artist Kehlani tweeted: "WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO OHANAS THIS WEEK I WAS SUPPOSED TO COME THIS WEEKEND WE WERE SHOOTING YOUR VIDEO NEET (sic) WEEK WE HAD TO FINISH YOUR NEW FAVORITE SHOW NO NO NO NO U GOT THE SATURN TATOO (sic) AFTER I DID UR CHART THIS IS TOO MUCH.

'I WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH I F*****G LOVE YOU DUDE THE GREATEST."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton to be awarded honorary Oscars

18 Jun 07:26 AM
Entertainment

Watch: Behind the scenes at this year's Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

18 Jun 06:00 AM
Entertainment

Smokefreerockquest Regional Finals - Wellington

Sponsored: Embrace the senses

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton to be awarded honorary Oscars

Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton to be awarded honorary Oscars

18 Jun 07:26 AM

Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her charity work.

Watch: Behind the scenes at this year's Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

Watch: Behind the scenes at this year's Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

18 Jun 06:00 AM
Smokefreerockquest Regional Finals - Wellington

Smokefreerockquest Regional Finals - Wellington

Smokefreerockquest Regional Finals - Manawatū

Smokefreerockquest Regional Finals - Manawatū

Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP