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 can’t remember every crying over a celebrity death although some have touched me more than others depending how much I loved their work - Terry Pratchett was the one that sprang to mind when I saw the thread title, and knowing there would never be another trip to the Discworld. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to read the last book because while it’s still there to be read, the series isn’t over.

When I was a lot younger I remember becoming slightly obsessed with Kurt Cobain’s death - as in reading everything I could get my hands on about it - because I was in a relationship with a man with severe depression and it was the first male celebrity suicide since I’d fallen in love with him, and I felt as though there was a key to understanding my DP (now DH as it happens) in there somewhere. We’d both loved Nirvana’s music too.

The one I’m dreading is the Queen. I’m neither a raging monarchist nor a Republican, but it will be a huge change to something that has been a constant throughout my life and which feels as though it has been in steady state for the last few years. Even if the monarchy survives Charles’ relative unpopularity, mundane things like having to get used to hearing God Save the King for the rest of my life and having entirely new stamps and coins will be odd.

Generally though I have a reaction somewhere between “ah right, that’s a shame” to someone who hasn’t had any impact on my life, through “ohh, that’s really sad/what an awful shock” and a short time of thinking about how much I loved their work in response to the death of someone where their talent did have an impact. No tears though, and the most I’ve ever posted on FB has simply been a link to a favourite piece of work by them, particularly if they were in the music industry - so when Bowie died I posted a link to Changes as it’s the song of his that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I have felt the loss of several celebrities very deeply, when they were people whose work impacted on my life and/or were part of my personal landscape.
I started out with a long list, dating from the late 60s, but decided that no one needs to read all the way through it.
I did know Terry Pratchett slightly, however, and also think that he is known to many people who never met him through his authorial voice in the Discworld books. He is there on every page. Losing Terry was bloody awful. I sympathise with the poster who still hasn't read the last book. I took 2 or 3 years to do it (and sometimes wish I hadn't)
RIP, Sir Tezza. Sorely missed.

GabsAlot I know plenty about MH struggles thanks, considering I’ve been in treatment for complex PTSD for years and have made attempts on my own life....so pull the other one

What I meant by “he had so much to live for” is that he had a beautiful wife and kids, lifelong friends within the band and a ridiculously successful music career. So he must have been in an incredibly dark place to have ended his life in the way he did.

Also agree with others re: Peaches Geldof
Her death really saddened me, mainly because she had 2 very young children, and she died in the same way as her own mother. An absolutely tragedy for everyone in the family to see history repeat itself in such an awful way She must have been a deeply troubled young woman below the surface

But weve all got so much to live for its just a weird thing to say

Im sorry for your troubles

celebrity deaths barely impact me at all. i might feel a little sad about the death of someone with e.g. young kids [jade goody or whoever, even though i really disliked her 'career'], but it really doesn't affect me.

@StillCoughingandLaughing

I can't bring myself to read the last book either 😢

Bloody phone.

That was @TheTitOfTheIceberg

Still sad that Princess Diana has gone.

Very few I just think it's sad for the families.

I did get choked up listening to Johhny Clegg yesterday, even though I knew he had been ill for a while it still comes as a shock

How can you cry and get upset over someone you don't know? I grew up with the likes of Michael Jackson, George Michael, David Bowie, didn't bat an eyelid when they died,

How can you cry and get upset over someone you don't know?

How can you read an entire thread with posts by people explaining how often it's what the person's body of work came to represent for them, or how it coincided and became synonymous with the death of a loved one, and still not understand?

I still can't get over Grumpy Cat... :(

How can you cry and get upset over someone you don't know? I grew up with the likes of Michael Jackson, George Michael, David Bowie, didn't bat an eyelid when they died,

Its called having empathy.
@happyhillock you should try it.

Freddie Mercury, Terry Prachett and Rik Mayall. Because of the huge impact they had on my life one way or another, the memories linked to them and the people I met because of them. Because of the books and songs and skits that made me laugh even when I was so ill surviving wasn't guaranteed and for brightening the darkest of days and making me feel I was never entirely alone. They might have known me but my relationship with them remains very personal for me.
There's a couple of others I know from experience people will message me about when they occur because they know it will matter. Just like I knew which friends would be hugely upset when Bowie died or Alan Rickman.
Would I take a day off work? No. Might I write about what someone's work has meant to me? Yes. Would I make it all about me on social media? Probably not. Would I judge someone else's reaction? No. Because I don't know what is tied up in their feelings any more than they fully understand mine.

When Elvis died I was 15 and I thought my world had ended I'd loved him from aged 7 I was lucky enough to go to Graceland for his 40th anniversary and loved every minute I guess after being a fan for 50 years now I guess I won't stop! I was also sad but not in such a big way when Prince, freddie m and freddie S died and George M because they were part of my youth.

I've been upset when celebrity crushes have died and if it's young person it's terrible. But I have little empathy with celebs who die through their own drink and drug abuse for example.

I was sad about Amy Winehouse. Such a terrible waste. And Tommy Cooper, but was very young then.

Robin Williams death made me feel sad.