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 think the only one that did really affect me was Chester Bennington. I’ve suffered a lot of mental health issues over the years and I related to so much of what he sang and spoke about. Beautiful voice and from what people say a lovely man.

I’m normally really cynical about the whole celeb thing but that really got to me.

Agree that it's often virtue signalling. I have felt brief sadness over certain musicians, but not enough to be posting about it on SM. It's very strange behaviour TBH.

I was very sad when Scott Hutchison from Frightened Rabbit died. He had battled with depression for many years and this came across so clearly in his music that it was heartbreaking that he was gone.

Sounds like attention seeking to me! I often forget who has and hasn't died!

Alan Rickman the day after Bowie... Bang! Ouch! WTF?

the only celebrity death that upset me was the crocodile hunter and Paul Walker I was so upset over those

So upset you couldn't remember his name

It's not attention seeking if you don't actually seek attention. I and others have posted on the thread saying certain deaths were upsetting but as I didn't actually post on any social media about it or actually tell anyone about it, it's hard to see how it was attention seeking. It was what it was.

Generally I don't get emotionally invested. Some are shocking losses when someone dies far too young in sudden circumstances. Some are well established, unique talent and either way it's the loss of that potential that's sad rather than a more personal level.

The one that wells me up is Terry Wogan and I suspect that it's a displaced grief for a paternal figure. He was the same age as my dad and returned to the R2 breakfast show around the time my dad died. He had a dad style of humour and was a constant male presence to start the day from secondary school, through university and through work to the end of my 20s. His radio presence was warm, gentle and witty, and his only peer of that genre is Ken Bruce. When my school got email in the late 90s I wanted to try it out, and the only email address I could think of was Terry's and he read it out the next day. I was officially a premature TOG at 17
Being his other listener gave the feeling of a one-way relationship and very few people achieve that. I hope Ken Bruce looks after himself well as I suspect he's the only other celebrity that hits that soft spot in me.

Not something I'd go publicising about under my real name though! 😂

oh yes david.a i will be genuinly upset about him.

I read a quote once after I believe Prince died, don’t remember exactly but something along the lines of ‘we mourn them not because we knew them, but because they helped us know ourselves’. I think this is what a lot of people experience. Not necessarily the actual person, but more what they represented, if that makes sense

I felt very sad about Emiliano Sala earlier this year. He was obviously so excited about his new opportunity, and the future. What a dreadful and avoidable waste.

I would not have posted about it on SM though.

Rik Mayall ! I'd completely forgotten that he is no longer with us. Such genius.

I dont thik I cried but felt very deep sadness for Victoria Wood.

I think celebrity deaths are a socially acceptable outlet for emotion, so its probably not pure grief for that person but frustration over work or family, remembering others who have died, general disatisfaction with how life panned out, projection of grief, all sorts of reasons.

I was sad about Terry Wogan and as anyone who knows me IRL knows I was a TOG through and through with the sweatshirts sent by Terry to prove it.

Princess Diana, sad yes but didn’t chuck myself around weeping and leaving carpets of flowers as others did.

I just can't imagine getting upset about the death of some sleb. Just why would you?

If they are really talented then I stop and think, what a shame they’ll never write any more music/comedy/plays etc.

I’m not emotionally connected to them though so that’s about it.

For me, the deaths of certain people bring on a massive, painful bout of nostalgia. George Michael was one such person. My childhood memories of my sister’s Wham posters on the wall in the room we shared, hearing Listen Without Prejudice repeatedly on a gap year in Australia - his death brought back a lot of memories for me and made me sad.
It’s not something I’d share with others, though.
There is one famous person I greatly admire for their work and philanthropy and I would be very upset if they died young.

Absolutely gutted when Robin Williams died. Still am. I get sad when we watch a movie of him... espesh Bicintinial Man and Hook because whatever he was in I didnt think oh another same old character, he was a good actor and you never thought he was the same in any film... thats a good actor. Patrick Swazie aswell... cant believe he died! Funny how him and Robin was in movies where they died...

Still can’t believe Prince has gone 💜

I still get upset about Robin Williams. I get really sad whenever I see him on the TV or whatever. And also Chester Bennington (Linkin Park lead singer). Both were suicides. Oh and Heath Ledger. That was pretty tragic.

I get upset at other deaths like Alan Rickman and David Bowie but suicide always saddens me the most.

I will be sad when Angela Lansbury passes. I have very fond memories of watching Murder She Wrote as a child with my late Nan ❤️

deaths that I have been sad over are Mike from Love Island, Alan Rickman and George Michael

Brendan Grace died last week, he is an old time comedian from Dublin, someone my parents would watch and he always brought laughter into our home growing up. So, yes his passing I shed a tear at, especially seeing his funeral procession on social media. Such a lovely send off he had. It's like a little bit of my childhood has gone, it really makes me nervous that my parents are ageing more everyday and that's awful.

My daughter was devastated last week when Cameron Boyce died, she cried loads 😞

@JAMMFYesPlease just read back through the thread I posted and realised I said the same people as you!

Zebedee i still cried at the end of that but it was a nice way to end it