To think celebrity worship is weird?

[Doesyourkidhaveacold]

Is it just me, or is the whole worship of celebrities really bizarre? I think appreciating someone’s talent is one thing and I have people I like to watch/listen to, but I find the extremes that people go to really bizarre, spending hours standing around hoping for a glimpse of them, spending hundreds on tickets to go and see them, following their every move and being interested in who they’re dating, obsessing over what they look like and buying everything they make/endorse. I was reading something earlier about best and worst celebrity encounters and it’s like these people have to do the bare minimum. One person raves about Adam Sandler because ‘he said please and thank you to everyone’. Okay, shouldn’t everyone as standard? It’s odd how we heroworship people because they’re born with a good voice or the ability to pretend to be someone else, or kick a football. This isn’t one of those ‘nurses should be paid the same as footballers’ things, I just find it bozarre that we out these people on such high pedestals? I don’t think any famous person is ‘better’ than me and I wouldn’t line up to meet a single one. I respect what they create, but anything more I find odd. Why do we give these people so much within society? They’re just people at the end of the day? I saw a video the other day of a woman saying she was angry that people were at a Taylor Swift concert who weren’t singing along as they didn’t deserve a ticket. Surely this thought process is bonkers? Yet so many people hold celebrity’s on such high pedastals and treat them as though they’re more important people than anyone else. I find it all so odd?! All the fawning and things like award ceremonies for being on tv and such is just so…strange. Am I reasonable or just a bit of a sour face?

And no, I’m not jealous, I have no desire to be famous or go to the Ivy or whatever. And yes, I include people sleeping on the streets for days to see the royals in this.

This has been going on for decades, since the 50s really. It's not new at all. I worshipped various people in my teens (in the late 80s).

I think it's kind of understandable when you're a teenage or young adult and you use an idol as a way to define your burgeoning identity. I think if you're still doing it in middle age it's a bit sad really. No one is sufficiently impressive that they should dominate someone else's life that much.

I know what yiu mean @Doesyourkidhaveacold

I've met one in real life.

Years and years ago I worked with a women who was obsessed, and I mean obsessed with David Boreanaz - the actor who played Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Her whole work desk was littered with posters, mouse pad, cups etc with his face.
She spent all her annual leave travelling to USA.

Primarily it was to go to those TV conventions, but she also told me she would hang outside his house, go to shops, restaurants to see if she could spot him.

The weirdest thing is she would talk about him, like she was a close personal friend. She once told me that she was worried about him because his wife had just had a baby, but the marriage was struggling and she had offered to help him through this. She genuinely thought he would get in touch with her to talk through his troubles.

Yes, I think it's ok to really like someone or have an appreciation for what they do, but not having a full on "obsession".
That said, I've met a few sports people in particular and have been in awe of what they've achieved and their dedication to a singe thing.

Having posters up is not the same as idolising someone 😂 Christ, my walls were covered in different bands and actors when I was a teen. Half of them I probably only knew one song or film! And I probably didn’t even know the names of some of them. It just reminded me of something I liked and the posters looked cool (to 13 year old me).

I think it can be a hobby for some people. It’s almost like a hoarders dream - something to collect. It’s an excuse to do something.

I’m not much into collecting obsessively - I get into things a bit and I can’t much be arsed to learn things I feel I don’t need to know about people I’ll never meet (last name, where they’re from, are they married, have children etc).

So god example what is it about him you like - his looks, popularity, money, youth, success?
I actually went to go and see him as DD wanted to go to a concert. He was very charismatic and sung well...but

That is harrassment!

@MrsElijahMikaelson1
@TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening
Seeing as you both have the same celebrity😆. Is it a crush thing? Like you fancy him. Or do you love his music and how it makes you feel. Is the person an extension to the music? Would you really do something if he asked? Genuine questions.

I feel that I am probably an outlier in that it wouldn't make a difference to me if I were to go to a celebration with music and they just played the songs, rather that the same songs sung live, if you see what I mean.

I know that dancing together with people to music is a much better feeling for me than dancing alone to the same music, so maybe it's something like that.

YANBU at all. I'm utterly baffled by it tbh. However good (or attractive) I think an actor is, or however much I might be a fan of someone's singing or whatever, I have absolutely zero interest in meeting them or knowing about their life. The weirdest thing is when people talk as though they actually know these celebrities. There's a name for that, apparently. It's called a parasocial relationship.

I agree.

It’s one thing to enjoy going to concerts, being really interested in that celebrity and following them on social media.

But when it gets crazy and becomes an obsession I think it’s bizarre. When people get so caught up in these celebrities lives, it goes beyond appreciating their talents and becomes to be honest, a bit stalkerish. I know some artists have now publicly spoken about these crazy interactions with fans. I know there has been some debates recently about an artist refusing to say she loves her fans. People begging her to tell them then that she loves them despite never meeting them! I think it’s just all a bit too much.

I can’t think of one celebrity that I would run up to if I saw them and begged for a photo together.

I think the poster teenage thing is mostly harmless but obsession at any age is not healthy ans can be a sign of other issues, but I don't get this 'oh his partner is being mean to him' or some other weird thing people come up with when they don't know the person and never will

Also the "oh he is innocent' when they are accused of a crime

It's a fantasy life away from the mundane.
People have been doing that since the days of worshipping the sun or the Gods.

I've always been a boyband fan, seen them all in the last 35 years, so it started the with X-Factor, then he did a very good job of growing up!
I love his music, the whole clothes thing, all of it really.
Like I said, I do go to other shows too, lots of them, he's the only one I've been to other places for, though I've travelled for other shows, just in the UK so far.

I wouldn't sleep with him if that's what you mean by if he asked to do stuff?
No, I'd think he was a horrid creep, I'm 45, met enough horrid creeps thanks.
An autograph, a hug and a selfie and I'd be on my way, plus I'd never interrupt his meal or anything.

Totally agree. Just seen Stephen Bartlet commenting on how honoured he was to meet Prince William. So the man who created an empire due to his talent and hardwork is humbled ‘ to meet a man who happened to strike lucky on her womb he was incubated in… the mind boggles.

I'm afraid its usually quite vacuous people that celebrity worship that I have met. I would swerve someone who gave a fuck about who their favourite singer was shagging etc.
I also don't understand why anyone would want fame. I can understand money and power and hanging with talented people BUT would hate to be famous myself.

I really don’t understand the obsession for Harry Styles. Then again he’s the double of my younger brother so maybe that’s why 😂

I'd hate to be famous too, or have a famous partner, I'm far too introverted, the most I talk to people is at shows because we obviously all have something in common and generally I go solo.
1 out of 18 this year is HS, and it could have been far more, I chose other stuff, though I have seen him loads over 13 years.
He's just my thing, following him online makes me smile, but I don't for a second believe half of what is published.
the hot photos are real though

Heeeellllllooooooo to your younger brother!!!!!
Does he also have a beeyootiful voice and hair?

@TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening 😂😂

Sorry no, he keeps his hair shorter now and is married with 3 feral kids. No clue about his voice though 🤔I’ll listen next time we play singstar and report back!

Ewwwww, kids, no thanks!

Another one who agrees with you 100%. And it's not just the worship of celebrities that is silly, but the simultaneous looking down on "normal" people. In other words, a very hierarchical view of the world, and placing at the very top those with money/looks/fame. They probably meet people every day who are nicer, more honest, etc. but do they respect them as much as they respect celebrities?

That said, I do enjoy a bit of celebrity gossip now and again!

Yep. Since last August I've seen my favourite singer and band, either solo or with the band, at Co. Durham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Wroot (near Doncaster), Darwen (Lancs), Birmingham, Leeds, Scarborough, and still to come, Glasgow (our home territory!), Dundee and Blackpool.

I love travelling, and I love their/his music, so it's win win afaic! For most of these trips DH has accompanied me, although not to the gigs, it's a great excuse for a weekend away. Our kids are old enough to be left at home for a few days now, in fact the youngest (14) can't wait to be shot of us. 😅 DC2 is 23 and still living at home.

Music has always been a major part of my life, and now that I struggle to walk far following an old injury - I can't even manage to the bottom of the road without a stick, and my back and elsewhere frequently aches, music that I love is one of the things that makes life more bearable. In its purest form, it makes my soul sing.

Oh and I reserve the word "celebrity" for people who don't actually do anything. People who write, sing, and perform music are musicians.

I don't get it either.

Yes, they have a talent. But after their gig, they take a dump, burp and fart like the rest of us.

Its weird tbf- grown adults screaming and going wild seeing someone that happened to make it.

Kids i sort of get.

But adults-something MUST be missing from your life.

Glasgow is my home city too.
Last/this year I've been to London/Leeds/Manchester/Lytham/Blackpool/Edinburgh/Dundee, some several times, obvs Glasgow a lot and would have been Scarborough but it was cancelled.
No idea about next year, depends who is playing where, I love my trips and seeing new places.
Dd has her own home so I can come and go as I please, I raised her on my own so couldn't go far for many years, I'm making up for lost time.
Harry is just a part of it.

"Adults screaming at gigs?" Where the fuck does that happen? 😕 Have you ever actually been to a gig? I haven't screamed at one since I was thirteen (the only time I ever did), and if someone was squawking next to me at one, I'd tell them to shut the fuck up and stop making a racket while people were trying to listen to the music. What an odd thing to say!