How badly do celebrity deaths affect you?

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

A casual friend (former colleague) has been in a real state about a celebrity death. She has posted on FB again today, several weeks on, about how she can’t handle it and when will the tears stop coming etc. Another of her friends has replied saying she doesn’t think she’ll ever get over it 🙄

It was a sad and sudden death, but seriously? This wasn’t a relative or friend - it was someone she’s seen on TV. I do understand there is a sense of grief, but weeks of tears and sorrowful social media posts just seems so OTT.

I can think of one celebrity death I was really gutted about, but the idea that I would be in bits about it weeks later to the point that I had to get mawkish about it online seems ridiculous. AIBU for thinking that kind of grief should be reserved for someone you’ve at least met?

I'll be upset when David Attenborough dies, but otherwise I don't feel emotionally attached to celebrities.

i will be upset when david jason dies.

I was quite upset when George Michael died (I was properly In Love with him as a teenager) but I don't think I shed any tears!!

I do find it a bit weird that some people react in such an extreme way to somebody they don't actually know personally dying - I think I'd keep it to myself if I was them.

Totally agree with you OP

When it’s a relatively young person who I admired like Victoria Wood then I pause and think “oh, what a shame for their friends and family” but what you’re describing sounds unhinged!

Rik Mayall's death really saddened me - I still think comedy is worse off without him.

George Michael, David Bowie - upsetting. Today Johnny Clegg. Also upsetting. But only that really and I wouldn''t be joining the RIP bandwagon on SM.
I think your friend has deeper issues OP.

I don't really care one way on another, I don't personally know them. I'm still not over mum dying 7 years ago and never will be.

I Still miss Caroline Aherne.

Yes to David Attenborough and David Jason the only celebrity death that upset me was the crocodile hunter and Paul Walker I was so upset over those

I was surprised how upset I was at George Michael’s death. I still can’t bring myself to watch or listen to anything
My dad didn’t come out of the music room for a day when John Lennon died, but he did know him a bit.

What celebrity was it? I was really saddened by Keith Flint’s death. He was an icon.

I think it depends on the celebrity. I grieved Terry Pratchett but I've been reading his books since I was quite young. It felt like the fictional characters I'd grown attached to all died with him.

I was sad when Terry Wogan died, he was a big part of my childhood and I thought of him as the friendly grandad I never had.
He reminded me so much of my own Dad.
RIP Terry xx

Agree with the other names shown here. I would have thought "that's a shame", (also eg Cilla Black etc) but I wouldn't go as far as being upset.

I cried proper ugly tears when David Bowie died.

When Prince died the same - plus I got horrendously pissed

I was mourning my youth, probably.

Not at all, other than to give a quick thought to their families and loved ones. I don't dwell on them and I haven't shed a tear to date.

I will be devastated when Mel Brooks dies, I’ve very briefly met him and he is a wonderful person and a musical/comedy genius, his work has gotten me through some incredibly tough times and never fails to raise a smile, whilst it isn’t a connection to him exactly more his body of work it will be extremely sad

John Lennon's death really affected me. I loved his music and it meant a lot to me during my formative years, so I was sad, but not distraught! It was also the manner of his death and that he was so young.
I’ll be sad about people like David Attenborough when he dies as I think he’s a great man, but he has lived a very long life, so will think his time had come.

I always thought it was ridiculous for people to get upset when celebrities die. Then Anthony Bourdain died and I still haven't been able to read the obituary. He represented something I admired so much, and to find out he was really struggling was heartbreaking.

I was devastated at Prince, I still can't listen to some songs. I don't post about my feelings on social media though.
I also cried at Doris Day but at least she was a good age.

It's a genuine "Awww. Shame." here and then move on

I was saddened for ages about Luke Perry's death this year cos it was when Riverdale's latest series was aired.

My MIL was distraught when George Michael died, you can’t even talk about him without her crying. I don’t think I’ve ever been upset by a celebrity death, I’ve acknowledged it’s sad but that’s about it

I was pretty shocked and upset when Steve Irwin died, he was the one that got me into animal conservation and now I do alot of charity work for wildlife. I will no doubt shed a tear when David attenborough dies and will be devastated