The family of Tony Hughes, one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims, is expressing outrage over recent comments made by pop star Ariana Grande.
The controversy arose from a podcast interview in which Grande recounted a past remark about Dahmer being her “dream dinner guest.” Dahmer, a notorious serial killer, murdered and dismembered 17 men over 13 years.
Shirley Hughes, Tony’s mother, spoke to TMZ, expressing her distress over Grande’s comments. She found them deeply hurtful and emotional, especially when Grande laughed about her fascination with Dahmer during the podcast.
Shirley emphasized the ongoing pain that families of Dahmer’s victims endure whenever his name is mentioned. She criticized Grande’s lack of empathy and called the remark “sick,” stressing it was inappropriate to discuss such a topic with young people.
“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”- says Shirley.
Barbara Hughes, Tony’s sister, shared similar sentiments. She argued that Grande’s comments glamorize Dahmer, who was killed in prison in 1994. Barbara suggested that Grande should apologize to her fans, underscoring that such remarks are unacceptable.
The broader context highlights society’s obsession with true crime, with numerous TV shows, movies, and books capitalizing on stories like Dahmer’s.
Tony Hughes’ family also criticized the Netflix series “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” for its portrayal of the killer, despite the creator’s claims of extensive research and attempts to contact victims’ families.
Barbara concluded by saying that only those who have experienced such tragedy can truly understand the pain involved.