It’s a classic tale. Celebrities get married, get divorced, have kids and go through the death of family members. All the while, there is an unwelcome guest there to accompany them through the tragedies and celebrations: their fans. Although devoted, fans need to give celebrities space when going through these hyperpersonal events in their lives.
Many fans of A-listers have no issue voicing their opinions and critiques on every detail of celebrities’ lives. Even though fans think their comments are beneficial, this over involvement creates unhealthy parasocial relationships time after time.
On Aug. 18, Jack Antonoff, producer and eight-time Grammy award winner, and Margaret Qualley, actress known for her role in “The Leftovers,” tied the knot. The event was star-studded, with guests including Lana Del Rey, Channing Tatum, Zoë Kravitz, Cara Delevingne and Taylor Swift. The intimate ceremony, as well as the rehearsal dinner prior, was overcome with Swifties filling the New Jersey streets that surrounded the venue. Paparazzi and fans’ chants of Swift’s name disrupted the wedding, ruining a personal and monumental event in Antonoff and Qualley’s lives. Now, when Qualley and Antonoff reminisce on their special day, they will think of the elegant ceremony, romantic dances, gorgeous outfits and screaming fans outside of the venue.
Similarly, after being married for four years with two daughters, Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have recently gotten divorced, officially announcing it on Sept. 6 on social media. Being an award winning pop-band member and a high-profile actress, the couples’ lives have been broadcast to the media. But now, with such a public divorce, commentary from fans has only amplified the already tense situation, especially with their children involved. In court documents, Turner claimed that she was first informed that her husband was filing for divorce from the media. The rampant media feels the need to report on every single event, and Turner’s experience of finding out about her divorce via online shows the determinants of this process. Now, Turner has sued Jonas for his refusal to send their kids to their home in England.
People on Tik Tok have been sharing their opinions on this drama, but it is not theirs to speak on. People should respect the privacy of Turner, Jonas and their daughters and leave them alone during this time.
When fans get over-involved in the lives of their favorite movie stars, models, artists and influencers, they risk the creation of detrimental one-sided parasocial relationships. These relationships can be harmful to the fans, especially when a celebrity’s public image is revealed to be different from their true identity. Lizzo, an international pop-star known for promoting body-positivity, recently faced allegations for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment, including bullying dancers for their weight, announced on Sept. 1 by NBC News. These allegations serve as a reminder of the danger of these parasocial relationships with celebrities when it is revealed that they are not always who they appear to be to the general public. Fans may get overly invested in their admiration for these figures such as Lizzo, only to be disappointed and betrayed when an opposing truth is revealed and destroying what they knew to be true previously.
It is perfectly fine to be a fan of someone, but in many cases it has been taken too far, and these relationships can be dangerous for both the celebrities and their fans. Superfans need to take a step back for the privacy of the celebrities and for their own sakes.
Photo Credit: Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Grammys 2020 by Cosmopolitan UK is licensed under (CC BY 3.0).
