Where do we draw the line that separates simple appreciation and infatuation? The concept of a fandom has risen dramatically through the early twenty-first century. From Britney Spears’s “Oops!... I Did It Again” skyrocketing her popularity and leading to a fan breaking into her house in 2002 in hopes of getting a glimpse of her (Los Angeles Times, 2002) to Taylor Swift’s restraining order granted against a fan who repeatedly showed up at her properties this year; celebrity fascination has certainly crossed a line (McNicholas, 2024). 

Gaining recent publicity, celebrities have been defending themselves against this kind of boundary-crossing. In late August, Chappell Roan posted a statement on her Instagram calling out what she calls “predatory behavior (disguised as ‘superfan’ behavior) that has become normalized because of the way women who are well-known have been treated in the past.” She continued with a request: “Please stop touching me. Please stop being weird to my family and friends” (Roan, 2024). Although Roan’s Instagram has over 5 million followers, this reach was not enough to stop this exploitative behavior.  

During this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, Roan gained attention for yelling back at a photographer who told her to “Shut the f*** up.” Then, on October 25, Roan demanded an apology from a photographer on Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts World Tour” red carpet premiere. Roan called out the photographer for “being disrespectful” at the Grammys and firmly stated, “You need to apologize to me” (Garcia, 2024).  

This type of call-out behavior has received mixed opinions in the media. While some users on the social platform X praise the “Good Luck, Babe” singer for “standing up for herself,” others condemn the rising star for being too brash (Spencer-Elliot, 2024). Though eyes are on Roan for her firm stance against actions that jeopardize her safety, it’s clear that these predatory incidences continue to occur. 

Beyond rude commentary, humanity is also removed from celebrities through intense measures to imitate their appearances, styles and art. Blackpink cited as the “biggest girl group in the world,” has had its fair share of crazed fan incidences (Lie, 2014). The South Korean group, with members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, is stylistically associated with themes of self-confidence and female empowerment. However, this uplifting energy put into their music does not stop crowds from crossing the line of regular fan love. 

Since the group’s rise to fame in 2016, there has been an ongoing online discussion over member lookalikes. In fact, the term “Koreaboo” has been coined to label “a non-Korean person viewed as being obsessed with Korean culture and media” (Dictionary.com, 2024). These individuals can go so far as to denounce their own race and call themselves Korean. While Blackpink promotes self-love, lookalike-obsessed fan behavior is racially disrespectful and promotes cultural appropriation. 

While a select few are drawn to the point of intruding into these celebrities’ personal lives and senses of security, far more often, individuals become obsessed in a way that harms themselves. Especially among young girls, traits like emotional investment in celebrities’ lives and aggressive defensiveness to celebrity criticism are on the rise. A certain type of escapism preoccupation has developed. Coined by psychologist Dr. David Giles in his publication Illusions of Immortality: A Psychology of Fame and Celebrity the term “Celebrity Worship Syndrome” refers to the psychological condition characterized by an intense and obsessive admiration for a celebrity (Giles, 2000). 

CWS symptoms include constantly thinking about the celebrity, collecting memorabilia and following the celebrity’s every move on social media. The rise of social media over the last 15 years has certainly expedited the prevalence of this condition, as notable celebrity moments are published and spread online almost instantaneously. The 24/7 news cycle has led to increased public investment at every moment, leading to more scrutiny and criticism of public figures. 

In addition to the negative effects these kinds of infatuations have on celebrities themselves, this level of admiration has unhealthy consequences for the obsessed. According to a 2021 study published in the National Library of Medicine, “exposure to celebrity images, appearance comparison and celebrity worship are associated with maladaptive consequences for individuals' body image” (Brown & Tiggemann, 2021). 

Social media usage is on the rise, with 93% of teens actively using social media platforms daily in 2024 (Chaddock, 2024). This rate continues into young adulthood, with this developmental period coinciding with vulnerability to mental illnesses. As social media consumption increases, so do eating disorder rates, with 70% of those struggling never receiving access to the treatment they need and deserve (National Alliance of Eating Disorders, 2024). These alarming rates call for obsessed fan behavior to be taken seriously. 

While viral fan incidences create the occasional buzz around how far enthusiasts will go, an equal concern should be placed on the emotional states of young people who worship these stars from a distance. 

It’s beneficial to check in with yourself and to consider the mental weight and thoughts consumed by celebrity actions. Do you find a majority of your thoughts and discussions revolve around who’s dating who in Hollywood, which controversial post is going viral or which celebrity is canceled this week? You may be celebrity-obsessed! 

Even small actions like back-handed comments on a celebrity post that seemingly hide among thousands of others or casual daily conversations about a celebrity’s supposed workout routine fuel the negative media cycle. Idolizing fame is an unrealistic standard that encourages emphasis on perfecting one’s physical appearance and focusing on outside perceptions of oneself. If you’re always focused on how others perceive you, how can you ever appreciate yourself? 

If you find yourself staring at your bedroom ceiling, plastered with airbrushed magazine covers flaunting bronze skin, plump lips, long legs, smooth complexions and expensive fashions, remember that those celebrities often crave the safety and privacy that a life outside of the spotlight offers. 

As much as dreaming of future possibilities can be positive, remember that where you are now is a place you used to dream of too, and that is something to be cherished.  

 

 

 

 

References 

 

Brown, Z., & Tiggemann, M. (2021, January 26). Celebrity influence on body image and eating disorders: A review. PubMed. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33499697/ 

Chaddock, L. (2024, January 11). What Percentage of teens use Social Media? Teen Social Media Usage Statistics 2024. Sentiment.io. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://www.sentiment.io/how-many-teens-use-social-media/ 

Delgado, S. (2024, October 2). Fans Defend BLACKPINK's Jennie Following 'Rude' Interaction in Paris. Teen Vogue. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://www.teenvogue.com/story/fans-defend-blackpink-jennie-following-interaction-in-paris 

Garcia, T. (2024, October 27). Chappell Roan Calls Out Photographer at Olivia Rodrigo Premiere. Variety Australia. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://au.variety.com/2024/music/news/chappell-roan-confronts-photographer-olivia-rodrigo-deserve-apology-18345/  

Giles, D. (2000). Illusions of Immortality: A Psychology of Fame and Celebrity. Palgrave Macmillan.  

KOREABOO Definition & Meaning. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/koreaboo 

Lie, J. (2014). K-Pop: Popular Music, Cultural Amnesia, and Economic Innovation in South Korea. University of California Press.  

McNicholas, T. (2024, January 25). Taylor Swift's stalking saga highlights vulnerabilities in system for everyday New Yorkers. CBS News. Retrieved October 21, 2024, from https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/taylor-swift-stalker-domestic-violence-restraining-orders/  

Police Detain Man at Britney Spears' Home. (2002, February 6). Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-06-me-briefs6.2-story.html  

Roan, C. (2024, August 23). Instagram.  https://www.instagram.com/chappellroan/p/C_CGxsrP4Bc/?img_index=2  

Spencer-Elliot, L. (2024, September 12). Chappell Roan praised for telling photographer to 'shut the f*** up' at the MTV VMAs. The Independent. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/chapell-roan-mtv-vmas-photographer-b2611541.html.2-story.html