In a world bound by the internet, many people find solace in virtual relationships. But sometimes, these relationships can turn sour when the connection is a one-way street.
Daily exposure to celebrities and influencers on social media can make users feel like their favorite icons are a part of their personal lives.
This bond can spark a need to consume celebrity-related products and become immersed in their subculture. If you walk into the bedroom of senior psychology student Tony Molina, you will see that in action — an impressive display of his love for the rapper Tyler, the Creator.
"I buy a lot of (his) stuff, a lot of records, CDs, posters, anything really," Molina said.
Molina feels a genuine bond with Tyler based on the content he creates.
"I feel like I know him really well," Molina said. "I feel like I know him pretty well enough to hit it off really well if we were to ever meet."
Molina's relationship appears lighthearted and consequence-free, but other virtual connections can veer into unhealthy territory. Internet-fabricated bonds of "friendship" are a sociological phenomenon called parasocial relationships, or one-sided dynamics with public figures.
Pop star Chappell Roan made a statement in August that the lines between work and her personal life had blurred to the point of no return. Predatory behavior, both in public and online, rendered her unable to enjoy performing.
A month later, on Sept. 21, she announced that she had been diagnosed with depression.
The statements echoed the cries of celebrities and musicians across the nation whose fame and success ended up having more negative consequences than expected. Roan's voice was just one that made people pay attention.
Tyler, the Creator used a different method to express his anger toward overbearing fans. In 2013, he wrote a backhanded, snarky rap about being chased down by fans at Six Flags.
The song was named after Twisted Colossus, a Six Flags ride that Tyler was trying to go on with his friends when he was approached by a fan. The song rants about how the fan assumed a personal connection with Tyler during this interaction.
"I'm going f------ loco, 'hey Tyler, can I-' No, b----, don't you see me tryna buy a f------ churro?" he raps.
Constant pleas from celebrities showcase the potential severity of this issue, but the easiest solution for fans may be to set a boundary.
"If I was in that person's shoes, if I was a celebrity, would it make me uncomfortable?" Maddy Kirchhevel, a local music fan, said. "And if the answer is yes, then I'm like, 'I don't want to do that.'"
One-sided relationships with celebrities are not just harmful to the celebrity themselves. Fans who depend on these "relationships" will often be let down.
"Celebrities, when they only portray a front of themselves to the public ... it gives such a warped perception of reality and leads to a twisted understanding that (makes you think) you know somebody when you really don't," said Ella Wicoff, a freshman studying mechanical engineering.
"It becomes so heartbreaking when you realize that that's not real, that's not human connection — that is delusion."
Edited by Andrew Dirst, Abigail Beck, Tiya Talwar and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at ebmosier@asu.edu and follow @eleribmosier on X.
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Eleri is a senior studying interdisciplinary studies, english and sociology. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also worked in retail.
