Blackpink Performing At Coachella Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times (Tribune Content Agency)
Inappropriate behavior from fans has existed as long as celebrities have, but with the development of the internet, this behavior has become much more apparent with the rise of “parasocial relationships.”
Parasocial relationships have been a hot topic across social media as of late, mainly in the music scene–but can apply to any celebrity.
It’s a phenomenon of fans feeling a strong, “personal” connection to celebrities despite knowing virtually nothing about them outside of their “persona.”
At its lowest level, parasocial relationships are relatively harmless and mainly involve fans showing support and devotion to their favorite celebrity. In extremity, it’s a toxic relationship that harms both the celebrity and fan.
As someone who’s been in fandom spaces for years, I’ve realized that the line between fandom and obsession is thin and can easily be crossed. It is unnerving to witness first-hand how quickly someone can escalate over a celebrity; even bending their own morals.
A great example of this can be seen with pop or k-pop stars via Twitter (now known as “X”) with “fan wars.” Fans argue over which celebrity is better, overanalyze anything they say, and even go as far as harassing others over their favorite celebrity.
This phenomenon only worsens if a celebrity does something bad, like using a racial slur or making an inappropriate comment. Extreme fans will go out of their way to defend them, even if they are truly in the wrong.
Beyond fan wars, many of these fans feel they have a right to celebrities’ personal information.
Amongst fans of queer media, the concept of “queerbaiting” has been watered down and used as a weapon to force celebrities to disclose their sexuality.
It makes you wonder where this sense of entitlement from fans comes from. Why do some fans think they are owed anything from celebrities?
I’ve realized the answer to this question is simple. Capitalism.
Unfortunately, like many issues in the world, the root of this unhealthy obsession is capitalism and greed.
The companies behind these celebrities oftentimes are well aware of parasocial relationships and even encourage them.
Parasocial relationships are transactional. Fans support celebrities and their work in exchange for content and interaction (even if it’s indirectly).
Fans are spoon fed all this content to the point that they feel like they truly know the celebrities they admire. It becomes an addiction, to the point that they overlook their flaws and defend them no matter what. That is the goal.
The downside of this method is that once a fanbase becomes too large, it becomes difficult to control the fans.
Then, once their favorite celebrity acts out of character, they become aggressive.
If you know anything about K-pop, you may have heard that some fans become genuinely upset whenever their favorite artist dates. It sounds bizarre, but when you hear their reasoning it all becomes clear.
A common complaint often heard from these fans is, “How could you do this? We spend so much on your albums…”
To these fans, since they support their favorite artists monetarily, the artist absolutely cannot break the persona they are paying for.
Of course, with western artists this is not as severe but the same system applies.
When a western celebrity does something wrong, a common reaction for fans is to feel frustration for the money they lost.
There is a sense of guilt over financially supporting someone who, in their eyes, is no longer a good person.
I’ve felt this myself after J.K Rowling’s several controversies. I was upset that I spent any money on her books/merchandise and didn’t know what to do with them.
I feel sympathy for these fans; as many companies behind celebrities specifically target younger demographics, who tend to be more vulnerable.
Although, at the same time, it is important to recognize when you are going too far and overstepping your place as a fan.Celebrities are not totally absolved of blame either, there are those who do feed into these parasocial relationships.
This does not mean they deserve mass hate by any means, but is important for all parties involved to recognize where the line needs to be drawn.
Fans and celebrities can have a healthy relationship, but boundaries absolutely need to remain in place.
Money is not worth sacrificing your peace, nor is celebrity interaction worth sacrificing all your time and money.
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