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?

Most celebrity deaths leave me unmoved, or make me think “blimey, thought s/he died years ago”, but I was sad about Paul O’Grady, he seemed like a good man.

The two I’m really dreading are Kate Bush and Stephen King, both of whom’s work I’ve been a massive fan of since I was 14, 3/4 of my life.

I don’t mean full on mourning, but yes I do feel a twinge of sadness whenever the news comes on and someone has died/been killed at a young age. I thought that was normal? ‘Couldn’t care less’ just seems a little heartless.

Iv never felt like this over a celebrities death. Its obviously sad when anyone dies but it wouldn't affect my day in anyway, I wouldn't cry or stop what I'm doing.

I felt very sad about Victoria Wood. I think because I think she was such a great talent and would have done more great work. I think she had quite a sad early life too.
DH was v sad about Rik Mayall .

Mine isn't even a death. I recently found out that Linda Ronstadt has Parkinson's Disease and can no longer sing. She had such a wonderful voice (her version of The Eagles' Desperado is just sublime). It really got to me.

I've been the same OP. I have never before been properly affected by a celebrity death, and I was rather sneery about the reaction to Diana for example. But his death has properly got to me. And I too am surprised by my reaction as I never knew him and well, I'm just not like that. I have a feeling I'll be shedding proper tears when watching the Easter tribute programme.

I think for me at least celebrity deaths can affect me as they represent the passing of time, things changing, people getting older. Don’t beat yourself up for being sad

I think that's why I feel the way I do about Olivia Newton John. Yes, she had her successes, lots of chart hits, lots of awards, international stardom, etc., but it was very short lived - basically only 15 years or so of being at the top, from her late teens to early 30's.

She wanted a family but had a number of miscarriages and time ran out after having only one child, her daughter, which was a difficult and traumatic birth. She also set up a business, Koala Blue which crashed after a few years due to the recession.

Then just as she was re-launching herself after starting her family, preparing for a comeback tour, in 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at only 44 years old, which fundamentally ended her mainstream career, even though treatment was successful. After that, she was still a prolific singer, songwriter and actor, but because of the risk of cancer returning, the "big" producers in the industry couldn't risk big projects (couldn't get insurance against cancellation etc)., so she basically self-produced, some songs/albums were financed by herself when no big record labels would take her on, and she could only land several low-key acting roles, and did lots of smaller live tours/concerts.

She also had troubled and problematic relationships, with one of her long time boyfriends disappearing on a fishing trip, and another earlier ex-fiance attempting suicide after breaking up!

Considering all the knocks she suffered, she always remained positive and genuinely loved life, loved people and loved animals. It's a combination of all that, that despite so many knocks and set backs, she never went off the rails, and always saw the positives in life.

For me it was Freddie Mercury. Such talent and so young. It took my by surprise how sad I was.

I did feel sad about Rik Mayall, Robin Williams, Alan Rickman and Victoria Wood too, but not in the same way. Bowie, George Michael and Prince were a shame too, but for some reason none of them upset me like Freddie’s death. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Robin Williams was a big one as I grew up watching his films. Was also shocked and upset about Patrick Swayze.

I think its a combination of a familiar part of your life leaving you, and a reminder that we are getting older.

Interestingly I also have quite a strong reaction when I see posts of celebrities and their younger selves. I guess it forces me to accept that they have aged, I have aged, youth has slipped away for us all. Its quite jarring, even though I like to think I am relatively relaxed about aging overall.

I read something awhile ago that since tv was invented, the generation to see that, are the first to feel sadness over celebs deaths.
Inviting people into homes through the television shows a connection.

Especially with television showing repeats the celebs dont always appear as they are. We remember them as we see them.

The next generation are surrounded by tv and social media and have widen there connection with people so will know people through the screen.

I hope ive explained that right.

As I was leaving my parents' house for the last time, after they had both died, Paul O'Grady came on the radio. The house was our family home for 58 years & would be sold soon afterwards. Paul said "Eck eck" a very scouse greeting which my dad & Aunts from Liverpool all used to say. Then he played the Lighthouse Family as we drove away into the sunset, sounds corny but it's true: the sky is so blue, the sun's gonna shine on everything you do. Felt like my Liverpool family saying goodbye to me. That was 13 years ago & it's a crystal clear memory. He was a lovely man.

I cried when it was announced that Robin Williams had died. I kept saying the same that it was silly, but I have so many lovely memories of his films when I was kid. I thought he was hilarious, also the circumstances of his death obviously made it sadder.

I literally cant stop thinking about his little dogs looking for him😕 i hope the farm and everything stays as it is. Who knows what it may be come in the end.

he was 12 years older that me but the around the same age as my life long gay friends. You see in the 80’s we were allowed to go to gay clubs at 15 as long as we got up for school the next morning. One mate who moved to London at that time told me lily was the ice cream lady at one of the gay cinemas and all she sold in her tray was 10 number 6 and bottles of poppers! Things like that make me laugh. Drag was so different then. No one was offended by her. All the work he did with Aids, all the friends he lost. I wonder what he thought of Its a Sin? He had lived so many lives no wonder he wrote so many books. Everyone of them as good as the last. I met him afew years ago at a little theatre I got my book signed we stood chatting for ages about nursing, social work, his lovely dog that sat waiting for him with his beautiful husband and how Gaby Roslin hasn't changed abit since the 80’s 😃

i hope hes been reunited with Murphy and is having a throughly good catch up with all his mates up there. And god, the animals so many for him to wrestle with and hug. He will be moaning before you know it.

I hope his name lives on with Battersea and some celebs will step up and take turns or something.

I’ve thought more about Paul dying over the last week than any other celebrity in years.

Never felt this way about a celebratory, but I sort of understand where you’re coming from. Terry Pratchett’s death left me feeling a bit empty and lost. I grew up with his books, I read every single one and lost myself in his fantasy world at some of the worst points in my life. His books made life brighter, then he was gone. I still get the odd pang when life is shit and I don’t have a new book of his coming out to look forward to.

Perfectly reasonable.

What is unreasonable when someone dies is a claim to be a friend when you had rarely met them. It does seem that those claiming to be friends of Paul O'Grady actually were, fortunately.

I was so sad when Sue Townsend died, and Terry Wogan, and same for Paul o'Grady. They were part of my growing up.

I was so sad when Sue Townsend died, and Terry Wogan, and same for Paul o'Grady. They were part of my growing up.

I felt sad for ages after Chadwick Boseman died, it was so unexpected.

Still very sad about Robin Williams too

Not so much a death but I cried when I heard about Bruce Willis.
Not because I particularly ranked him as an actor or anything but having lost one parent to dementia & watching it develop in my remaining parent, I felt so sorry for his family.
The picture of both his families together at Christmas was lovely & I hope they continue to support each other.

Yes, Terry Wogan upset me a lot as well! Another one you felt that you knew despite having never met them. Some people just have that way about them don’t they? His Eurovision commentary was just the best thing. So non pc he used to make cry with laughter. Funnily I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say anything bad about Terry either. How interesting they both had that effect on people when they passed.

Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and Anthony Bourdain are the ones who have affected me most. I still choke up a little thinking about both of them.

I get it.
It’s been a year since Taylor Hawkins died and I can still barely watch anything with him performing. Never ever felt celebrity grief like it, he was part of mine and my friend’s lives for 20+years and the memories we have from going to gigs are imprinted on my mind.
They’ll never happen again and that is so sad. so I guess it’s mourning for what he represented in us. Still my heart breaks when I think of his family, and of course the band ❤️