There are many theories floating around about why this phenomenon seems to happen, from coincidence to dark magic (okay, maybe not that last one, but we can dream, right?). Some people think it's just a result of the law of averages, where the sheer number of celebrities out there means that sometimes a few will pass away in quick succession. Others believe it's a result of our brain's tendency to look for patterns, even when there aren't any.
Case in point: the deaths of David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and René Angélil in 2016, which had everyone freaking out about the "rule of three". I mean, it's not like these guys were exactly unknowns, right? Bowie was a music legend, Rickman was a shakespearian superstar, and Angélil was the manager and husband of Celine Dion (aka the Queen of Las Vegas). Talk about a triple threat!
Now, you might be thinking, "But what about all the other times when multiple celebrities died in a row?" Well, let's just say that Confirmation Bias is a powerful thing, folks! We tend to remember the times when the "rule of three" held true, and forget all the times when it didn't. It's like our brains are playing a game of celebrity-themed connect-the-dots, and we're all just along for the ride.
