Frightening Fandom!
By Terri Doss
@gtdoss (1013)
United States
August 31, 2022 5:52pm CST
The first time I remember being a fan was in the 1970s. My idol was Donny Osmond, though I never got to the point where I'd tape a poster of him on my wall. I also liked David Cassidy and Bobby Sherman. Every once in a while I would buy a Tiger Beat magazine. It seems so funny now that I'm 60, LOL!
Though I still admire and enjoy some artists (actors, singers, dancers, etc.), I don't go out of my way, really, to buy their music or go to the movies or anything like that. Out of the handful of celebrities that I do admire, there's an even smaller number that I would care to meet in person.
That brings me to my topic, frightening fandom. I'm sure we've all heard of celebrities that have been physically touched, stalked, and even killed by their fans. They have stuff thrown on them, and they are often frightened by the proximity of, let's just call it what it is, total strangers. I would no more try to touch a celebrity, even one I admired, any more than I would try to touch a stranger on the street.
I understand boundaries, and so do most people, but there are just some really disturbed people out there, more now than ever before. I actually feel sorry for celebrities with what they have to deal with from people who call themselves fans but who are really just toxic people under the guise of fandom.
So, what do you think? Are you a fan of a celebrity/celebrities? What do you think about frightening/toxic fandom?
Image by Vishnu R from Pixabay
10 people like this
10 responses
@FourWalls (68084)
• United States
1 Sep 22
Most of my fandom is with music. I’m more of a “what do you think of that Merle Haggard tribute album” than a “you’re so great” gusher. Although I have done that (did it when I met Glenn Frey…couldn’t help myself 
).
).1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
31 Aug 22
I feel sorry that teenage girls cannot go through all that teen idol stage now. It was a grand time in the 1970s when my girlfriends and I enjoyed David Cassidy and read every Tiger Beat and 16 magazines, We shared the albums and spent hours listening to them, and often one of my girlfriends stayed overnight so we could watch The Partridge Family. Nowadays I think a lot of things can be dangerous and celebrities have to watch out for themselves.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102927)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Sep 22
I am a fan of the late musician Donna Summer, female wrestlers the late Kandi Malloy, Wenona Littleheart, Alex Gracia, Panamanian gymnast Hillary Heron, actor Sylvester Stallone to name a few. I have tweeted to Alex that I admire her work as a wrestler in the independent circuit but she has nothing to fear from me since I respect the way she earns a living as a performer and model plus a businesswoman.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102927)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
1 Sep 22
@gtdoss Alex Gracia who is known as the Pink Dream thanked me for tweeting her that I am taking the advice of former pro wrestler Marc Mero aka Johnny B Badd to respect their line of work since they make sacrifices in their profession.
1 person likes this
@hillhjill (23717)
• United States
1 Sep 22
I would never want to be famous, with all the crap that they have to go through and people worship them to much. I have a very different kind of a opinion on this kinda stuff but I mostly keep it to myself
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180805)
• United States
1 Sep 22
Fans take it too far but you have to expect a certain amount of that is a celebrity
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Sep 22
I'm not a fan of any celebrity and I do have to wonder why anyone in their right minds (other than children who really don't get it like Brittney Spears was) would want to be one and then I have to wonder why any parent would allow their children to become one. Children should never be put into the limelight as fans more often than not are toxic, they have the mob mentality which is very scary to me.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3239)
•
2 Sep 22
People like that are SO scary, but I guess they have mental illness. We have to do better at treating that! I worked at Marriott for a long time and got to meet quite a few famous people. I tried to always be polite and friendly and not be obnoxious, because they were usually very tired from traveling when I saw them.
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
1 Sep 22
I think when were young and impressionable it's ok to form attachments to celebs in fields like sports, music and film stars. Of course, hero worship is different than stalking or harassing a celebrity. My heroes were sports personalities as a kid/teen. I think personalities have to be very careful. Many I'm sure have bodyguards. Unfortunately, stardom and some obsessive fans are part of being famous.
1 person likes this
