It has become weirdly normalized to not treat celebrities like normal people, especially in recent times with stalkers, overly obsessive fans, pushy photographers, and people throwing items at concerts. Three musicians have stood out in 2024 for talking about this topic, two of them writing songs about it, and two of them publicly speaking about the issue multiple times.
Tyler, The Creator and Billie Eilish have released music this year having to do with stalkers and overly obsessive so-called “fans”. Although Eilish hasn’t spoken publicly about her troubles with stalkers, Tyler, The Creator and Chappell Roan have stood their ground when it comes to them. Both artists have remarked that there is a time and a place for pictures and that fans should respect it. Both artists have also openly talked about how some fans push the lines of what is acceptable, Roan took to social media to express the harassment she has faced by writing that she is “specifically talking about predatory behaviour (disguised as “superfan” behaviour) because of the way women who are well-known have been treated in the past.” This post by the singer has since received a lot of hate, countless internet users have claimed that Roan doesn’t appreciate the career and the fans she has, when this is not at all what she is trying to get across in her message.
Chappell Roan has also recently received backlash for how she behaved on the red carpet during the VMA’s. In multiple videos, Roan can be seen snapping back at a photographer after he was being particularly rude to her and her team. In an interview later that night with Entertainment Tonight, Roan stated that “for someone who gets a lot of anxiety around people yelling at you, the carpet is horrifying… you don’t get to yell at me like that.”
To hear more about the parasocial relationships fans form with their favourite musicians, check out the podcast in this article.
Resources
“Billie Eilish seeks restraining order against man who keeps showing up to her parents’ LA home.” YouTube, uploaded by ABC7, 18 Jan. 2023, youtu.be/bOpkpq-_DuA?si=2tqANvWFZV9SD8VP. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
Kurtin, Kate, et al. “Parasocial Relationships with Musicians.” The Journal of Social Media in Society, vol. 8, no. 2, 2019, pp. 30-50, core.ac.uk. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
“NOID.” YouTube, uploaded by Tyler, The Creator, 21 Oct. 2024, youtu.be/Qer3lwd5hyA?si=3xpy4ClmMWIjK4HL. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
“Tyler, The Creator Opens Up About Art, Internet Culture, and Music on Mavericks with Mav Carter.” YouTube, uploaded by SpringHill, 14 Aug. 2024, youtu.be/H6CjuMazfsQ?si=B_dtW0XxlsE3uE11. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
“Tyler, The Creator Opens Up & Gets Raw, Real & Uncut!” YouTube, uploaded by HOT 97, 6 Aug. 2021, youtu.be/Sn4kg3cMcfk?si=doGRsRqIEQDO-tad. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.”Why Chappell Roan YELLED at VMAs Photographers (Exclusive).” YouTube, uploaded by Entertainment Tonight, 11 Sept. 2024, youtu.be/QyDPvIT6G7E?si=i9FwRidN1MxYSyN8. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
