Celebrity deaths always get attention. But when they come in close clusters, something strange happens. People start saying, “That’s two, who’s next?” It is called the “Rule of 3,” and it is one of pop culture’s weirdest beliefs. But is there any truth to it, or are we just connecting dots that don’t belong together?
The “Rule of 3” kicks in when three celebrities die around the same time. Fans and media act like it is a pattern, even fate. And once that third name hits the headlines, the cycle feels complete.
This happened in July 2020, when Naya Rivera, Kelly Preston, and Regis Philbin passed away within weeks. The same thing happened in 2009 with Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. In these moments, the "threes" seem undeniable.
Sometimes, the third death feels forced or happens days later. And plenty of celebrity deaths happen without any "group." Still, the idea sticks. People expect it. They look for it.
Is There Any Truth to It?
Experts say, nope. There is no science behind it. No cosmic math. Just good old-fashioned brain tricks.
Ozzy / IG / Psychiatrists point to something called “apophenia.” That is when your brain sees patterns that aren’t really there.
Our minds hate chaos. So we make an order, even where none exists.
When two big celebrities die back-to-back, we wait for the third. And once it happens, we feel like something’s wrapped up. But the truth is, celebrities die all the time. We just don’t group them unless they are famous enough or close together.
Why the Number Three?
Three is the magic number. Always has been!
We see it everywhere. Gold, silver, bronze. Three meals a day. The three little pigs. The Holy Trinity. Even jokes are funnier in threes. It is how our brains work.
Psychologist Michael Eck says three feels like a complete set. One feels random, two feels like a coincidence, and three feels like a pattern. That is why we stop counting after three. It gives us closure.
So, when a third celebrity dies, we sigh and say, “There it is.” It is a mental full stop. We can move on.
How Celebrity Grief Hits Us
Even though we don’t know celebrities personally, their deaths still hurt. They feel like part of our lives. We watched them, listened to them, grew up with them.
Psychiatrist Dr. Amezcua-Patino says celebrities are like “members of the tribe.” Their work shapes our memories, our culture, and even how we see ourselves, so when they die, it feels like losing someone from our extended family.
Malcolm / IG / TV shows like “30 Rock” have joked about the Rule of 3. So have late-night hosts and internet memes. It is part of the cultural script now.
That emotional weight makes us pay attention. So when one dies, we are already on alert. The second one sharpens our focus. By the time the third comes around, we are locked in. It feels like a cycle because we feel it so deeply.
The media loves to connect these deaths, too. Headlines will say “Celebrity X is the third in a string of shocking losses.” Even when it is a stretch, it fuels the story. We eat it up.
Over time, the Rule of 3 became less of a question and more of an expectation. We don’t ask if it is real. We just wait for it to happen. Remember, the Rule of 3 is not a law. It is not a curse. It is just human nature doing what it always does: searching for meaning.
There is no secret force behind timing celebrity deaths. What is real is our reaction. The pattern is in us, not the world. We group things to feel in control. We use threes because they are easy to process and emotionally satisfying.