Millions of people around the globe develop unrealistic parasocial relationships that can be toxic and harmful. Idolizing celebrities is unhealthy and often reveals itself throughout many different types of industries whether it be pop culture or the world of sports.
According to The Guardian, a parasocial relationship is one that “describes people forming intense – and crucially, one-sided – attachments to celebrities or public figures.” Fueled by social media, the modern day obsessions with celebrities have gone too far. From song artist Taylor Swift to professional basketball player Lebron James, many fans host feverish discussions about the latest rumor or trend. People feel as if they are friends with the celebrity, leaving celebrities overwhelmed with millions of crazed fans believing they are best friends.
A main issue of parasocial relationships is the false sense of connection that it can create, causing toxic behavior where fans blur the line between admiration and obsession. For example, in the case of K-pop, parasocial relationships can lead to sasaeng fans—a term that describes an obsessive fan who invades the privacy of Korean idols, drama actors and other public figures in the entertainment industry. There are even “sasaeng taxis,” which involve following idols to their scheduled activities or personal appointments. Such taxis or groups will exceed speed limits and break other traffic rules to follow their targets. For example, a fan going by the Twitter handle @Josh1994, stalked and harassed TWICE member Nayeon since the end of 2019, leading to multiple concerns for her safety.
Fans often become angry when a celebrity is involved in dating rumors, as they feel entitled to control the celebrity’s personal life. The same follows for breakups, seen by how Taylor Swift had to instruct her followers not to cyberbully her previous boyfriend John Mayer. If celebrities have to lecture certain fan bases in order to prevent violence, the fans have indulged into parasocial relationships to a far unhealthy amount.
In sports, the obsession reveals itself in a different way, with many avid sports fans spending hours typing away on Reddit defending their favorite players. Some even spend entire days dedicating their livelihood to athletes like LeBron James. This extreme devotion can lead to many mental health issues and unnecessary added stress within someone’s life. Parasocial relationships also promote unrealistic expectations and a distortion of reality. Many fans hold stars to perfect standards, as fans expect their favorite celebrity to remain perfect forever. This is simply untrue because celebrities are just like everyone else and should not be held to an unrealistic set of standards.
This phenomenon affects more than just a few people– it is a problem that affects 51% of Americans according to Time Magazine. While admiration is normal, fans must learn to set boundaries between healthy support and toxic attachment. Recognizing that celebrities are just public figures rather than personal friends can help fans avoid the pitfall of parasocial relationships.
