• How social media has transformed fan reactions to celebrity deaths

Celebrity deaths have long had a profound impact on fans, often stirring strong emotions despite the fact that most fans have never met these public figures in person. 

While celebrities may seem distant, their work often becomes deeply integrated into the lives of their audiences. Whether through music, film, or other forms of entertainment, these figures shape cultural moments and personal experiences. 

As a result, their passing can feel shockingly personal. Celebrity deaths serve as a reminder of their humanity and the inevitability of mortality, often evoking a sense of collective mourning.

Mourning a public figure

Recently, the world was shaken by the death of Liam Payne, a former member of the internationally famous boy band One Direction. Although the group disbanded in 2016, it was at the pinnacle of pop culture for years, commanding stadiums full of adoring fans across the globe. 

Many fans formed parasocial relationships with the members, investing emotionally in their lives and careers. Even though the band has been inactive for nearly eight years, its presence remains alive in the collective memory of pop culture, driven largely by a dedicated and loyal fan base.

Payne’s untimely death at the age of 31 has left a lasting impact on his fans, particularly those who grew up following One Direction during their teenage years. Social media has become a platform for many to express their grief, with former fangirls – now in their mid-20s or early 30s – sharing how deeply they have been affected by the news. 

A recurring theme in these discussions is the defence of grieving a celebrity. For many, these parasocial relationships were formative, and mourning a public figure, even one they never met, should not be dismissed or ridiculed. Fans state that their grief is valid, reflecting the deep emotional connection they formed with the music and personalities that shaped their adolescence.

A more nuanced aspect of this conversation centres around the experience of fangirls, particularly in relation to boy bands like One Direction. During the band’s height of fame, fans – predominantly young women – were often trivialised or mocked for their enthusiasm, with their love for the band dismissed as shallow or unserious. 

Now, years later, some of these women face further judgement for mourning the loss of a celebrity, especially someone like Payne, who had faced criticism in recent years for his controversial behaviour. 

The added complexity of navigating public grief for a figure whose legacy is mixed raises questions about how society views fangirls and their emotional investments. Despite this, many continue to defend their right to grieve without shame or judgement.

John Lennon

Throughout history, certain celebrity deaths have deeply resonated with the public, creating moments of collective grief. One of the most notable examples is the tragic death of John Lennon, a former member of the Beatles. 

Following his assassination in December 1980, fans worldwide gathered to honour his legacy. In New York, over 400,000 people assembled in Central Park to pay tribute to Lennon in the week after his death. Candlelight vigils were held in both Liverpool and New York – Lennon’s two hometowns – drawing thousands of mourners who shared in the sorrow of losing a cultural icon. On 14 December 1980, simultaneous vigils took place in his hometowns, underscoring the global outpouring of grief for the former Beatle.

In a reflection on that time, Beatles fan Shyaam Galappaththi recounted the experience of hearing about Lennon’s death from a family member living abroad. 

“Back then, things were different because we didn’t communicate like people do now,” Galappaththi explained. “By the time I received the news of Lennon’s passing, it was possibly even a year after it had happened. I heard of it from my cousin, who was absolutely heartbroken, and in her letter to me, she included her grief.” 

He added: “As I gathered, his fans grieved deeply for him. Contrary to popular belief, the Beatles was arguably a boy band and the majority of its fans were fangirls. Its members were made famous by fangirls who loved them. Beatlemania was thanks to fangirls.” 

This sentiment highlights the role of passionate young fans in elevating cultural figures and how their grief, then and now, is often dismissed despite being a genuine emotional response to loss.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Even more profound was the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, which triggered an outpouring of grief on a global scale. Her funeral, held in 1997, was televised worldwide, drawing millions of viewers and uniting people in mourning. 

Sumithra Murage, a mother who vividly remembers the day, recounted the impact of hearing the news. “I remember actually watching the funeral in 1997,” she shared. “My son was four years old and we watched it together. To be honest, we didn’t have many famous celebrities back then to look up to, and she was one of those rare figures – everybody knew who she was. She felt glamorous, and because so much was reported about her, she felt very present in our lives.”

Murage reflected on the differences between celebrity culture then and now, particularly the increased accessibility of public figures in the age of social media.

“We didn’t have the type of fan experiences kids have these days,” she noted. “Recently, some of my son’s friends even flew to Malaysia to watch a band perform and they know their daily thoughts because of social media interactions. But back then, it was not the case. Diana was a true celebrity for that time, and when she died, I think people mourned her as if a family member had died.” 

Her remarks highlight how Diana was not just a public figure but also a deeply personal symbol for many, embodying the unique relationship people had with celebrities in the pre-digital age.

Michael Jackson

The death of Michael Jackson also left an indelible mark on fans and the public alike. Even those who were not die-hard followers of Jackson’s music recall the overwhelming media coverage and the collective sense of loss. 

Hasitha Pathirana, reflecting on the day, shared: “When Jackson died, we had many of our own celebrities making statements in the local media, lamenting his death. It was kind of surreal to witness. I think fan culture was somewhat understood by the time he died, but to see that kind of reaction in real time was something different.”

Pathirana noted how unique Jackson’s influence was, saying: “Since then, we have not had a celebrity who was big enough that when they died, people expressed their sorrow in that way.”

He also touched on the evolving nature of grief in the digital age, observing: “Online, it’s different; you can freely express your grief and also find your community, which some find solace in.” 

His comments highlight both the singularity of Jackson’s global influence and the way fan communities have shifted to online spaces, where collective mourning can take new forms.

A double-edged sword

Fan reactions to celebrity deaths have evolved significantly, especially with the advent of social media. Platforms like Twitter and Instagram allow fans to express their grief openly and find comfort in communities of like-minded individuals, creating spaces where emotions can be shared without judgement. 

However, this newfound freedom also comes with challenges, as online expressions of grief are often met with criticism or ridicule, exposing fans to a different kind of scrutiny. This double-edged sword of online mourning reveals both the support and the vulnerability fans face when grieving in the public eye. 

Ultimately, emotions are a deeply human experience and fans should be allowed to process their loss in whatever way feels right for them, free from the constraints of societal expectations. Grief is personal, and whether for a loved one or a public figure, it deserves to be respected.