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 was terribly upset when Sir Terry Pratchett died. I grew up reading his books, and have such fond memories of my Grandmother (maysherestinpeace) laughing like a drain reading his books. Jeremy Hardys death was a bit of a shock too, my DH and I had seen him perform on a number of occasions.

Heath Ledger.
Robin Williams.
Sad for their families, but not unhinged

Cory Monteith. I grew up watching Glee in my teen years and it really did help me feel more comfortable to be myself. I could relate to people on the show, I'd never had that before. I was devastated when he died. He was so young, so talented, and a lovely person. I'd met him a few times.

Other than that, no celebrity I really "care" about has gone yet. There are definitely musicians that I know I'll be incredibly cut up about when they die. My mum will need a month off work if Jon Bon Jovi goes before her!

I think if it’s someone whose work has been very meaningful to you then it’s understandable that it could have a big impact. I think any grief expressed on social media is inherently a bit mawkish, but I still feel very sad that Terry Pratchett is dead because his books were one of the things that helped me survive my worse depression. I was a bit teary on the day it happened and still get waves of sadness about it now.

Not at all. When I hear I either think or say "aww that's sad" and that's it. My DM has always said I don't have a sentimental bone in my body.

I was totally shocked when David Bowie died, really really shocked, and George Michael, both were lovely human beings who did so much for others, quietly and unobtrusively. Good people should be mourned.

Cant think of anyone else.

I never quite understood the Diana-esque hysterical outpourings for people you simply don't know, will never know, have never met, unlikely to meet, have absolutely no impact on your life whatsoever.

madness

Not at all, I don't know them.

I was very sad when Terry Pratchett died, I love his books. I had a bit of a lump in my throat all that day. Same with Chris Cornell, Soundgarden are one of my favourite bands. I don't cry though.

Chester bennington- I grew up listening to Linkin park.It just made me so sad to hear he passed away.

@Serin Me too! I cried a lot that day and still get a bit of a shock when I hear his voice on Radio 2.

Alan Rickman’s death shocked and saddened me, he was a favourite of mine for a lot of years. Robin Williams’ death made me incredibly sad too. I will be gutted when Angela Lansbury and David Attenborough go.

Alan Rickman upset me. I'm dreading when the Queen goes too.

I felt really sad when Peaches Geldof died because we're a similar age and I used to follow her on social media. I loved that she seemed to be loving being a mum and she finally had the stability she needed as a kid but of course that wasn't the whole story as we sadly found out. I felt really heart broken for her babies looking for breast milk in the night and finding no mum was there and how hard that would have been for them to understand.

I was really sad for Nick Cave and Susie Cave when their son Arthur fell from a cliff to his death, I was down about if for a surprisingly long time, I just couldn't imagine their pain. It's also when someone with their whole life ahead of them loses the opportunity to be alive I just find it hard to wrap my head around.

More recently (this week) Emily Hartridge's death, I am devastated for her parents, sisters and boyfriend- such a freak accident and such a massive shame to have seen someone fight so hard for happiness only to be hit by a lorry and killed, it's just so unfair and so final.

So yes I do get affected by "celebrity" deaths, they are humans too and I can't help but empathise.

Dreading Bob Dylan's death too. I love him, the world will be poorer without him.

No more so than the deaths of non-celebrities who are strangers to me (i.e. ordinary people whose deaths make the headlines). It's sad if someone dies at a young age, or in horrible circumstances; and their death might represent a loss to the Arts or Science etc. but I can't claim to be emotionally impacted by the death of anyone I don't know personally.

If it's someone I really like, I'll feel sad, especially if they're a similar age to me or younger and I've liked their work for a long time. George Michael and Amy Winehouse spring to mind. I was also saddened by Peaches Geldof death, as she was a young mum and I thought she'd put her drug use behind her after having her kids. It was a like an echo of her mum's death. But no I don't spend time in tears about it.

I still miss Terry.
Apart from him, I reserve my tears for my mum.

I've felt sadness at a few, ambivalent at others apart from thinking of the family, but have only been properly choked (or shed actual tears) at Robin Williams, Rik Mayall, George Michael and Chester Bennington.

Some pp's have already said it, I don't think it's grief for the person because we don't know them - it's what they represent, whether that's mortality and the passing of childhood, or a connection with a musician and how their writing speaks to us. The first 3 of the 4 I mention represented so much of my early teenage years, but Chester had such a talent for lyrics and melody that I was moved by him many times. Still feel a jolt of sadness when my Spotify churns out a Linkin Park song.

Never actually cried but have felt sad for some.

I felt sad the other week when I watched some Steve Irwin episodes. My 10 year old loved them. I was reminded just how good he was at presenting and how passionate he was about his snakes, crocs and other reptiles. A real pioneer.

It's natural for deaths to bring up grief for previous losses if you have not yet dealt with them emotionally. So the grief for a celebrity death may in fact be largely related to a previous loss or losses. Your friend may be unaware of this on a conscious level.

I was gutted when George Michael died and I still can't really believe it. When David Bowie died, for some unknown reason, I said to my husband, oh George Michael, Prince and Shaky (Shakin' Stevens- I know, he's not in the same league as the other 3 but I adored him when I was younger and am still a fan now!) will probably be soon. It was a flippant comment about the music stars I'd adored over the years. Little did I know that 2 out of the 3 would be gone before 2016 was over.
2016 was the worst year of my life, for personal reasons, everything that could go wrong did go wrong and I think that's why I still feel upset about George Michael because it happened at the end of a year that had been devastating for my me and my husband and it still brings back memories of that time.

I didn't weep and wail but I was gutted when Victoria Wood died. I think we've all missed out on a lot of good things with her passing. The same goes for Amy Winehouse. Both such talented people.

Madamerenard me too. River Phoenix dying upset me as I had been obsessed with him as a teen. Think I was 20 when he died. Alan Rickman, Georgie Michael.

But Harrison Ford's never going.............

Celebrities don't bother me but people I think of as 'great' people do.

Very upset when Nelson Mandela died. So much of his life wasted yet rather than revenge he opted for peace and reconciliation.

Similarly I'll be distraught when David Attenborough dies. He's a man that people will listen to who is trying to save our planet.

Funnily enough this has made me think of Diana. It looked like she had a miserable life in many ways. I liked what she did re cuddling AIDS babies, campaigning against landmines and visiting centrepoint.

i only cried when Karen Carpenter died. was very sad when Bowie died. I normally just have a "thats a shame" moment.