Imagine your whole life is put out for the world to know. People are digging to find something, anything, wrong with you. They idolize you to some insane extent. Someone always has it out for you whether they mean malicious intent or not. That’s what life is like for anyone with an ounce of fame. We, as the fans, are ruining, and have been ruining, everything pop culture, running these stars dry. 

One of the most notorious examples of this is Selena Quintilla-Perez’s devastating end. At just 23 years old, Selena was killed by someone who ran a fan club for her. The shocking situation stunned fans everywhere which can call into question how unhealthy fan behavior has not only become but how unhealthy it has been. In plain terms, the depths of their love for Selena drove the plans and designed her death. 

Another example, which is more recent, is the former One Direction star, Liam Payne’s death. After a shocking and devastating fall off his hotel balcony, fans have collectively mourned. However, some seem to be taking it to a point of disrespect. For example, TMZ was called out for including an identifying picture of Payne’s arm at the scene of his death. Along with that, certain fans have revolted by going after his ex, Maya Henry, after she spoke out about the toxic relationship the two shared just days before Payne’s death. As a whole, we do not know everything that happens behind the screen and by going after her, we invalidate who she is and how she feels as a person. 

Along with this, paparazzi is notorious for stalking and preying on celebrities, and even tracking their whereabouts. While it’s simply their jobs, it can be extremely harmful. Don’t celebrities having to ask for privacy at their own homes and beg for the paparazzi to leave them alone seem crazy and perhaps utterly terrifying?\

We must put into perspective that these are real people who just happen to have money and accomplishments tied to their names. When do our obsessions cross the line? What does it take for us to realize this? We fail to attach real human feelings and aspects to our idols; and therefore, lack to prioritize their needs and rights as humans. 

It would be useless to claim that a stop to idolizing celebrities is necessary. There is no elixir for the reality of this topic. However, as the people who create the audience and feed into their fame, we need to set limits. We can start by acknowledging that these are actual people, whose lives we know only about from the outside. We must think with context and try to empathize rather than sympathize.

We also must remember that it reaches a point where it stops being about holding celebrities accountable and turns into purely nitpicking everything they do. Nobody is perfect, fans themselves can be just as bad as celebrities yet they don’t get the berating bitterness these public figures receive.