Making Celebrities Human Puppets 

There is no such thing as growing in fame and not having a fandom. A fandom is the fans of a person, team, series, or any form of entertainment, regarded as a community. Some celebrities even give their fandoms names; Barbz, ARMY, Little Monsters, Carpenters, etc. Either the fandom themselves give themselves a name or get one. Some fans expect more than just a name. It gets to a point where some fans believe they are entitled to knowing every little detail about a person, even personal things like their dating life or homing. Some go further and stalk their idols and discover personal information not meant for the public.

“It is not to say that it comes with being famous, but it quite literally does. Once you’re famous, your life is no longer yours, but the medias. Some people can keep up and tolerate it and others can not,” said Deerfield Beach High School senior Laura Dumas.

Celebrities, despite their fame and money, are everyday people; walking, eating, breathing, etc. They all have their own lives to focus on, albeit another job, family, or even school. Fans, being fans, want to know as much as they can so they feel personally connected with their idol. It gets to a point, however, where it goes from normal to downright obsessive and stalkerish. Celebrities in past years have shared their stories of being stalked. In 2016, a stalker fan of the actress Miranda Cosgrove went to her house and lit himself on fire in her yard. There are many stories of celebrities experiencing situations that made them feel like their life or the lives of others were at risk.

“Imagine you work hard on something you love and hand it over to your boss. They love it too and send it to the higher-ups. You are recognized and cherished for something you love doing,” said DBHS junior Lavender Palmer . Now imagine those people constantly watching over your shoulder, pointing out whenever you do something they do not like repeatedly. They even start following you and making sure you are acting to their expectations in the comfort of your own home! It is weird and invasive.”

Like anyone, celebrities have their boundaries and limits. Some things are fine, others are not. One star, in particular, called out the behavior recently. In an interview on TikTok, Chappell Roan, an American singer-songwriter, called out fans who began to stalk and follow her home. She is not the only celebrity to have done so. Many celebrities have called fans out and even retaliated against fans who push their buttons and boundaries.

“Celebrities deserve to be their people outside and away from the media. These people being stalked and observed like prey should not the be norm,” said DBHS junior Thiago Codeceira.

In November of 2023, an idol from the Korean pop group RIIZE was put on an indefinite hiatus after pictures of his private life were leaked. 10-months later, he returned to the group, only to permanently leave 2 days later. The moment a person becomes a celebrity, it is as if they sign the right to a life away. Even while famous, celebrities should still be able to live their lives away from the prying eyes of the media. Becoming the next star shouldn’t be the equivalent of living in a house made of windows.

Written by Jennifer Landaverde | Graphic Designed by Jennifer Landaverde

Published November 7, 2024 | ePathfinder | Perspectives