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?

@cees I hear you... I'm the same. I think the dread of losing my parents seeps into my feelings about other deaths x

I was about to comment that none have really affected me, but Chester Bennington really did. Having suffered with my mental health a lot as a teenager, and also being really into Linkin Park back then (and still now) I felt really, genuinely sad about it. I think the suicide element of it is kind of what did it, it was such an incredible shame.

I'll be very sad when David Attenborough goes, because I admire him so much, but he has lived a long and (hopefully) happy life and done so much great work.

Normally not at all, I've always found it weird to be upset over someone you didn't know, but I cried for almost a week when Doris Day died.

That's mainly because I didn't get to grieve for my Nan when she died though and she played Doris Day songs for me every Sunday when I was little. So it was the association rather than the celeb herself. Maybe it's similar for your friend?

I’ve never cried over a celebrity. I’m really not impressed by singers and actors though . They entertain but I’m not interested in their lives whatsoever . I will feel sad when David Attenborough dies as my daughter adores him and has a signed photo beside her bed .

I would say perhaps shocked and saddened but not deeply upset.

Terry Wogan is one celebrity death that I still get upset by (but don’t go wailing on social media about it). He had always been in the background of my life, either on radio or tv. He also reminded me a bit of my dad.

I have been saddened by other celebrity deaths, but not in the same way.

When my DF was diagnosed with cancer, listening to Terry’s radio show helped in those dark days. TW died before my DF, and I really missed that comforting voice on the radio to help me get through the even darker days when DF died. I suppose for me they will always be slightly linked.

Doesn’t really interest me in the slightest

I was sad when David Bowie died because he was part of my youth and it was a sign of my own mortality too. I am also sorry I will never see Alan Rickman on stage again nor read another Terry Pratchett novel but that is missing their positive effects on me not missing them as people people as I didn’t know them.

Stray extra people

I had a little cry to myself when Peaches Geldof died, I followed her on Instagram and she seemed to be living such a lovely life with her husband and little boys. My sons are similar ages to hers and they were so young at the time, I was so sad thinking about all the things she will miss out on(and that they will miss out on their mum). I didn’t post on social media about it.

Was so sad when Cameron Boyce dided the otherweek. I didn't cry but felt really sad, mainly because 1. He was only 1/2 a year older than me, 2. I grew up watching him, but mostly because it was such a shook. When I saw that he was trending on twiter, I did not think it would be because of that. Although I believe that any death is sad, This death had me grieving.

The only one that's really affected me was Prince. Still does. Big fan, obsessive in my youth. Had been to countless concerts from early 90's to most of the '21 Nites' residency at the O2 in 2007. Met him once, know some of his band members, went out with one of them for a while donkeys years ago (rather dubious and groupie-ish claim to fame).
He was such a major part of my formative years and I still can't believe I'll never see him perform live again. Can't think about it too much as it somehow still doesn't seem quite real.

Definitely didn't post my weeping and wailings over social media though.

No one else really. Was a bit sad about George Michael but that's about it.

I wept when Bowie died, and Scott Hutchison. I didn’t post anything on social media, but I had a cry, and I felt properly sad. I can remember going into the kitchen and switching on the radio, hearing the news about Bowie, and rushing to wake DP.

Knowing Scott Hutchison was missing, and feeling the outcome would be tragic was awful.

When Scott Walker died I was really sad, but not to the same extent.

One of my staff phoned in sick for a week when Bowie died.

Terry Wogan and Terry Pratchett.

For all the reasons others have posted about them.

I still can't believe there'll never be another Discworld book, I so wanted to know more about Vimes...

you cant be as upset as their family and friends as you dont really know that person.

the only death that has affected me was stephen gately as ive been in "love" with him from the age or 12

my 8 y old is named after him, hes called gately (surname)as i went through 6 years of fertility treatment to have him and i conceived on the night he died

if any celebrities has died though alcohol or drugs i had no sympathy but a illness or sudden death i think aww and just move on really

I think it's sad when I hear of their death but thats it. I certainly dont get upset. I get upset when people I know die but not a celebrity who I've never met and means nothing to me

I don’t do vicarious grief over the deaths of people I never met, and I think those who do are either virtue-signalling or are mentally unstable, the former being most likely

Christ, that's harsh!

The day Freddie Mercury died, I spent the entire day in bed, weeping. I guess I must be mentally unstable, then.

I was really upset when Robin Williams died. Don't even know why as I wasn't a huge fun. I think its that he hid his depression so well (as most people who suffer do) and it just seemed like such a shock.

I was also gutted when River Pheonix died - it felt like my whole family (lots of sisters) were upset as he was only just older than us at the time and it felt like such a waste of a young life.

I agree with the PP up thread who mentioned David Attenborough - that will be sad for a lot of people (me included). And when Stephen King dies I am disappearing to my room for a good cry as he has been my favourite author for a very long time.

I have never cried over a celebrity death, but there are two the have effected me deeply.
The first was a film critic called Michael Dwyer. I was so upset when he died. His opinion was one I respected and the man never put me wrong with a film. He reviewed loads of obscure niche films so I saw things I never would have done without reading his column. He died in 2010 and I still miss him. I feel I miss out on films without his guidance.
The second only died last week. His name was Noel Whelan and he wrote political opinion pieces for the Irish Times. He was a brilliant political analyst that shone a light on many Irish and global issues. I loved his columns and am genuinely upset that his analysis will be missing in the coming months when the Brexit issue restarts. I know I will still miss his voice in 10 years.
I don’t know if Michael and Noel count as celebrities but I didn’t know either and they both leave a gap for me.

I cried, lt felt really sad when Dolores O'Riordan died, I often think of her death, I feel sad for her children, her tragic end, she was an inspiration to me.
I don't care if it is naff, I never preach on FB I am not on FB.
George Michael too, I didn't cry but felt a deep sadness, like Dolores I thought they'd still so much life to live.

@MolyHolyGuacamole

we mourn them not because we knew them, but because they helped us know ourselves’

I really like that.

I will be sad when the Queen passes and David A.
Still annoys me that Michael Jackson passed away

I felt rather sad about Peaches Geldof too. Not because of my own life but for her younger sister, Tiger-Lily. Her dad died having a wank, her mum died from a heroin overdose and then her sister too.

I am genuinely sad whenever I remember that Heath ledger died so young. There was just something so sad and lonely about him.

I am sad for William and Harry that their mum isn't around.

I suppose it's not so much 'grief' for the celebrity who we obviously didn't know, but more empathy for another human being who has been lost and their family left behind. He might relate to some more than others. Heath Ledger for me reminds me of so many young men I grew up with who seemed lost around that time. It made me reflect on how vulnerable we all are, and how difficult it can be for young men to get help before it's too late.

But I don't post on social media about it.

I will be devastated when Maggie Smith dies, I just think she's fabulous and should be in literally everything. The idea that her body of work should be complete would make me sad.