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 very upset when Robin Williams died, he was an icon of my childhood and had such talent. Also when Chester Bennington died his music was very big for me growing up.

I'm with you on Alan Rickman,

'Assume nothing except the occasional air of intelligence', one of my favourite sayings, Prince of Thieves, very outing to all my old pupils who heard it, a lot!

At my great age the people from my days dying doesn't surprise me but those I remember from when my girls were young surprise me, one tends to forget that they get older as the girls have got older, Luke Perry was a real shock, the 'nice one' from 90210. Patrick Swayze too, so sad, I still remember my daughter's face when I said he was nearer to my age than hers.

Not at all, really.

Although when Robin Williams died, I was a bit sad, as he was a part of my childhood.

Usually though, it's a thought of "Oh, so and so has died. That's sad." And then I continue on with my day.

I remember I was devastated when Princess Diana died, but I was far from being alone in that!

Bowie's death also shocked and saddened me immensely but his music and persona played a huge part of my life for about 40 years.

The corollary is when you're old and you find yourself saying Thought he/she had died long ago, someone died recently, Doris Day maybe, and a number of people said that.

Zero impact. I don’t understand people who grieve over celebrity deaths like they actually knew the person. You didn’t know them!

I’m not usually overly upset by celebrity passings but I am really dreading the Queen going, I wish she could be a permanent fixture.

If they're youngish I'll think it's a shame and be a bit gutted, and maybe well up a tiny bit briefly, but that's largely (I think) because of losing a sibling. If they're older I'll just think it's a shame and be a bit gutted. I'm not going to be sobbing uncontrollably for hours or thinking my life has ended - that's just drama queen territory.

I actually sobbed and then was tearful for days when Peaches Geldof died with her baby in the house. I had similar aged DC and just found it so awful. I was surprised at my own reaction but usually I just think 'how sad'.

George Michael was a real shame.

If Madonna died I'll likely go into full on mourning. She's likely to live to 150 though...

I cried a little when Robin Williams died. It was so sad that someone who gave so much joy, ultimately died possibly feeling scared. But I certainly wouldn't spend more than a minute here and there feeling sad. I didn't know him. Maybe your friends life is missing something and she lives through celebs and the like?

Nikki Lauda also got me. But only because I've admired him for as long as I have loved F1. He was awesome.

Being upset, shocked, saddened and even in tears is one thing (I will never, ever forget the little white rose bouquet with the handwritten card saying 'Mummy' on top of the casket) but broadcasting your grief on SM is weird. And somehow attention seeking.

@Raffles1981 Niki Lauda! Terrible shock.

It's weird being upset anyway when you didn't know them. If someone dies young or tragically then I might think it's sad but I wouldn't cry over anyone.

She sounds a right attention seeker.

Brendan Grace was a shocker but his funeral was so beautiful.Crowds outside the church singing.

Luke Perry,so shocked at that.
Tara Palmer Tompkinson for some reason really shocked me.I really liked her,so down to earth,

Madonna when she goes will be in full mourning mode.My Queen,my saviour so many times.Im actually welling up thinking about it.She will be the only one to really affect me.

I think if they were very much part of your youth, or bring back memories, it affects you more. I remember weeping when George Harrison died, and walking to work with "Here Comes The Sun " in my head all the way there. Then, although never a football fan, I had a bit of a weep when George Best died, I remembered the handsome smiling boy he had been, and it seemed such a waste.

Paul Newman ( my DD liked him and memories of watching his films with his as a child )
Don’t Laugh l!...Ken Dodd ( again lovely childhood memories )
George Michael .. soundtrack to our lives and he was just too young .. he was so vibrant and popular when we were young 😢
Every-time I here Last Christmas I cry and many of his other songs .. and as it turned out he was such a kind man too .. feel for his family and friends
When Whitney died in such a dreadful way and then her daughter passed not long after it really upset me bless her :0( ..
And Bowie ... my eldest brother a fan .. soundtrack to my childhood and when I was 20 saw him In his Serious Moonlight Tour .. so privileged
Celebrity ones affect me when they give me such happy memories of my childhood with My dear Mum and Dad whom I will never get over ...

Some celebrities I've been gutted about and shed tears over - it really depends how much a part of my life they've been or how I might see similarities in my own life. I cried when Jo Cox was murdered but hadn't known much about her before it happened. Her children were similar ages to my own and it really got to me because of that, and the manner in which she died. Others I've cried about tend to be because I have fond memories that relate to my own life. My dh still gets a bit choked up when he hears The Days of Our Lives and the Show Must Go On by Queen because he was a huge Freddie Mercury fan.

But crying days/ weeks later - no. That seems a bit like someone who has lost perspective.

I felt really sad when Caron Keating died because she had been such a familiar part of my childhood on blue peter and was quite young and leaving 2 young children. And i felt really sad although not particularly shocked, when Amy winehouse died despite not being a big fan of hers. She died the day after my mums funeral so i think i will always link the 2 events.

@shiveringtimber - he just seemed indestructible to me! After all he had been through and the era he was driving in, they had no fear. He was just something else.

I think, that's a shame, and that's it. It doesn't affect me at all.

For some reason I was bowled sideways by the death of Bowie, I cried all day and bits of the following week, listened to loads of his music etc. It really did floor me and I have no idea why! I'm in my 50's so the right age group but I was never a massive fan although had seen him in concert. He was such a brilliant talent and the thought of him being extinguished just seemed unthinkable. That was an awful year wasn't it? George Michael at the end, Bowie at the start and too many in-between . Still can't explain my reaction though...

@cropcirclesinthefields

I felt empty inside when both of those died. Plus I felt a lot when Avicii died as he was so young.

I still feel sad when I think about Pete Postlethwaite dying. Brassed Off was one of my favourite films and he seemed like such a lovely man.