To feel so sad about the death of a celebrity?

[Enfys1982]

I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I feel so sad over the death of Paul O’Grady, even though I’ve never met him. Even more ridiculous I keep thinking about his dogs wondering where he’s gone (I felt the same about the Corgi’s when the Queen died ffs). My now long gone Grandmother loved him as Lily Savage back in the day, went to see her live in Blackpool and even had her videos. She used to howl with laughter. I used to adore his teatime chat shows with Buster and Olga, then obviously more recently For the Love of Dogs which even inspired me to donate to Battersea.

No one has a bad word to say about him unlike a lot of celebrities and people in the public eye, and I think it was a case of what you saw was what you got. It seems so unfair when there are so many awful celebs who are in rude health (no names mentioned) and he’s been taken so suddenly and before his time.

Anyway I’m being ridiculous aren’t I? Surely this isn’t normal?

Well I can't say I was ever a fan of Paul O' Grady, however, I do understand where you're coming from OP.

I am a massive Prince fan, when he died I was genuinely upset, I spent hours on YouTube watching videos taken inside Paisley Park, it was so unsettling seeing all those rooms and furniture he used. His bedroom, where he slept the night before he died, was so bleak and sparse, nothing fancy or opulent, just an ugly box room filled with old computers and crap.

I still get a twinge now if I hear one of his songs.

I know I'll feel the same way when David Attenborough dies.

Yes I will be sad when David goes as well. Luckily he still seems in pretty good health for his age.

Paul O Grady cheered up my life op! Seeing him interact with ddogs - either his own years ago on his tea time show.. Or on the rescue shows. Knowing he was making a difference to ddogs lives was heart warming.

I just think it affects people and you can’t predict why or who.

I was traumatised by Prince and Terry Hall, I don’t know why? They were just passing stars in my teen/young adult life.

Whereas Bowie who l went to see caused no reaction at all.

l don’t know why l had these reactions. It’s all so weird.

George Michael’s death put a stop to my Christmas, I’m not even kidding. I was just so sad.

I'm still not over Heath.

It has affected me deeply too OP. I was appalled to see this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-65165567

bloody disgusting.

I admit that his death has really upset me more than others. I think because I thought he was just a really nice man and it was unexpected, I keep thinking out him.

I've never been 'traumatised' by a celebrity death as others have been, I think that's a strong term to use (well it is for me) like I was when my parents died. That was traumatic for me in a real sense.

I’ve been a bit sad about this but I was hugely upset and still miss Victoria Wood. I think this is a measure of true talent and celebrity. If people actually miss you and your work. Some of the ‘celebs’ these days aren’t adding anything to the public’s lives. If you’re making people laugh, smile… that’s something special. Paul did that so I don’t think you’re being ridiculous at all.

I think celebrity/famous deaths sometimes give us an excuse/reason to feel things we’ve buried about our own lives. Grief is pretty much not discussed in life and people run away from it and don’t like to hear about it.

I bet if you dig deep you’ll find some personal link - it might not be an actual death you’ve experienced but grief hits us in all sorts of ways - saying goodbye to kids leaving home, ending a job, moving house, losing a friend from not being in day to day contact anymore, the passing of the seasons, the brevity of life… all these losses need conscious attention.

This might sound a bit silly but I was really affected by the death of Michael Hutchence. It just seemed so senseless and there were no real answers as to why it happened, although the coroner ruled suicide. I was a massive fan of his and still feel sad when I read about him. So I understand OP. We often feel a connection with a famous person so it's natural to feel upset when they die

Although I liked him, I wasn’t a fan but I get you. I’m still surprised by now much Aaliyah’s death impacted me. She had so much potential and was taken away so suddenly and so young. It was tragic. It still makes makes me sad when I hear her music. She would have been as big as Beyoncé had she lived, such a loss.

Mine too. ‘Luckily’, I didn’t find out until later on in the day so had done all I needed and I cried in my room. Then Boxing Day felt like I was going through the motions.

It might sound bonkers to some but him (though not in person of course) and his music had been in my life since I was 6/7. Every song from Wham! to his later solo ones were part of my memories in some way.

I was/am the same with Rik Mayall. So much of my childhood was spent watching Drop Dead Fred and Bottom that it felt like an uncle or family friend had died. I've never felt anything more than a momentary sadness for other celebrities (or rather, the loved ones they leave behind to mourn them).

Seems to be normal!

I know what you mean, I was quite affected by his death too, even though I've got a heart like a swinging brick usually when it comes to celebrity deaths.
The only other one that really affected me was Terry Wogan, which was bizarre as I wasn't a fan or anything.
I think for both of them they were long-standing "background" people who I could rely on to be always there. If that makes any sense at all?
But yes, sad for all his dogs who clearly adored him and will be lost and confused now. And of course for his dp who must be devastated. At 67 these days you expect to have decades left together.

I haven't heard a bad word about Paul. He certainly was a gentle and caring man. His sense of humour was so endearing. Maybe it's because there are so few celebrities that come anywhere near/close to him. His charity work is legendary. I feel like we have lost a friend and his poor husband has lost his soul mate. He truly was a national treasure. He made a difference, changed attitudes and certainly was loved by many.

I know what you mean. When Robin Williams died my sister and I commented it was the only time we'd she'd a tear over the loss of someone we didn't know. It was like an uncle, someone we respected and felt connected to our childhood had vanished and genuinely upset us both for a long time.

As a PP says there's something in us that certain people trigger. Paul seemed like a good egg.

I think the other thing is, it does tend to remind you that you are getting older.

When I was younger and someone died, I didnt have a clue, or when they did those remembering people on the award shows. But now I seem to know all the names.

Robin Williams and Alan Rickman did it for me, I still cant watch a Robin Williams film without being a bit sad

Yup, I felt the same over Robin Williams and you know who came out of left field, Chadwick boseman, just reading that he made all of those films whilst having stage 3 colon cancer, and the significance of black panther, and How no one knew, he just kept on and then reading that until the week before he passed away he thought he was going to beat it and was looking forward to gaining weight to get back to the role. That gets me. Watching wakanda forever, you can see how much the cast loved him too.

Oh! Robin Williams💔

I'm sad that Paul O'Grady has died. I really like him. He was very funny and absolutely loved dogs.

I also felt very sad when Robin Williams Died.

I felt really sad too op, used to watch his evening show with my nan and grandpa, lots of good memories.

I was upset when Victoria Wood died. It wasn't just the loss of a great talent far too early, but also that she was my age and her work resonated my life. It's difficult when you lose someone from your own generation.

I get it.

Rik Mayall for me, still to this day a real ‘pit of the stomach’ feeling when I’m reminded he’s no longer with us. Famous folk can take up a huge space in our lives, even if we never met them.

I feel the same OP.
What gets to me is that it does always seem the good die young, and he was relatively young for these days.