The 2010s saw a rise in fandom culture, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the global popularization of K-pop. Fandoms took over the internet by bringing attention to their favorite stars through fanart, fan theories, and fan fiction on social media. While fans passionate about entertainment are not uncommon, some take their devotion too far.
Parasocial relationships describe a one-sided relationship in which a person develops a strong sense of intimacy, connection, or familiarity with someone they do not know. Celebrities and media personalities are most likely to be on the receiving end of this relationship.
Although there is no real understanding of why parasocial relationships arise, many scientists believe that it is caused by the brain's developmental need to be social. Since most people spend their time online or in front of a screen, the faces you see regularly become familiar and trigger positive feelings for both.
Others believe that loneliness causes these relationships. Research has shown that lonelier people often seek online connections. On the other hand, according to Psychology Today, highly social individuals are more likely to have a parasocial relationship.
A Forbes Health article lists social-emotional needs, escapism, media exposure, and perceived friendships as some of the top factors that give rise to parasocial relationships. Angela Amias, licensed social worker and clinical director of the Institute for Trauma Informed Relationships, told Forbes that the lack of actual emotional risk in parasocial relationships seems safer than establishing a real one. It doesn't allow people to reap the health benefits of true relationships.
While parasocial relationships can be positive, celebrities have spoken out about the downside of these relationships.
In 2000, rapper Eminem released “Stan,” a song that describes a fan's spiral into a stalker. “Stan” talks about mental health, fan obsession and a public figure’s responsibility to their fans. Eminem conveys how Stan found comfort in the situations the rapper portrayed in his songs.
In the final verse of the track, Eminem responds to Stan's letter, unaware that his fan is dead. He begs Stan for help because he is afraid that Stan will hurt himself or others. In the end, the song became an influential medium that brought attention to the dangers of fan mentality.
A research article by fan studies scholar Rivkah Groszman challenges the ideology that parasocial relationships are inherently negative.
“The one-sided nature of parasocial relationships and the resulting unequal dynamics between fan and person can appear psychologically unhealthy,” Groszman wrote. “However, this view could change if we look at celebrities as service providers.”
Grozsman's article compared a barista remembering a customer's “overly complicated order” to BTS member Jungkook quickly holding a fan's hand. While she argued that Jungkook is “just hoping they buy BTS's next album,” she said, “None of these interactions, even if they are one-sided, indicate deception. So why is the second frowned upon while the first is not?”
The article highlights a unique perspective on the relationship between fans and a celebrity. Fans will see the work of their favorite stars, but that's all they're owed.
Lately, the term “fan service” has been gaining traction. It is often used in anime, cartoons, and manga when a storyline or decision is made to appease fans. However, the K-pop idol system also includes fan support for these idols.
Idols or South Korean K-pop celebrities are supposed to fulfill their fans' desire for popularity, and most of the idols' success depends on their fan base. In a 2019 livestream on the now-defunct website V Live, BTS leader RM referred to his fans as his “lovers.” While the term became a joke among BTS fans, the light-hearted banter created a parasocial relationship between RM and his fans.
In 2022, Nigerian author Otegha Uwagba recounted a scary experience with a fan for The Guardian. She spoke about how stalking a fan on social media led to love bombing and an “overwhelming” amount of unwanted contact.
“I started receiving emails and the notifications and messages spread to Instagram,” Uwagba said. “Then they became more frequent and more unpleasant. She wanted things from me: work for me, meet with me, know how my weekend went, tell me how hers went, tell me about the job she didn't like, and for me to help her with a project She was able to start.”
While she experienced an ordeal with a fan, other experiences between celebrities and their fans resulted in death. John Lennon, Christina Grimmie and Selena Quintanilla-Pérez were all celebrities who lost their lives due to obsessive parasocial relationships.
Parasocial relationships are an unfortunate consequence of the entertainment industry and lead to personal boundaries being crossed. The lives of public figures can also be at risk due to these one-sided connections. Instead of forming parasocial bonds, fans could create healthy boundaries with other fans or people outside their fan circle.
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