You Don’t Know Them: The Parasocail Relationship of Celebrity Intimacy

Do you feel like your favorite celebrity is your best friend? You might know everything about them from their posts on Instagram, the products they promote, the work they put out, or the relationship they are currently in. But is that truly who they are, or is that just what their PR trained, brand-managed persona wants us to see and love? 

How can this become an issue? Psychologists described par-asocial relationships as a one-sided emotional relationship. Where a person or audience feels a deep connection to a person who doesn’t or can’t reciprocate that connection. Social media feeds into this by having access to everything about the person, deepening the relationship, but what you see is just what they want you to see. 

This obsession with knowing everything about a celebrity can quickly be taken too far and lead to consequences. In June 2025, Taylor Swift filed a restraining order against a male individual who showed up to her home, insisting that they have an romantic relationship and that Swift was the mother of his child. This incident was not just a case of misguided belief; it was a result of having access to what Taylor Swift’s life is perceived to be. You are easily able to go online and quickly learn where they live, their dating history, who they are friends with, and their daily routines. Although Swift’s situation is especially severe, it shows a larger issue: when parasocial relationships intersect with entitlement, personal boundaries can disappear entirely.

When someone feels genuinely connected to a person they’ve never met, their sense of entitlement can overshadow reality.

In the environment of social media, it gives “Stan Culture” the opportunity to flourish. Within Stan culture, being obsessed with a celebrity is not just accepted but promoted. Supporters live to know everything they can about their favorite celebrity and are consistently monitoring them. Social media feeds into this by setting algorithms that can lead to echo chambers where harassing a celebrity is seen as being a loyal fan.

The truth that you might not want to hear: You don’t know them. The information that you know about your favorite celebrity is very curated information about them to perceive a certain persona that fans can love and relate to. While the connection feels genuine to you, it is not reciprocated by them.

While it’s natural to be drawn to what celebrities are doing, I love it when my favorite artist posts that they will be releasing a new album or seeing what they are promoting. It’s important to remember that they do not know who you are and don’t reciprocate the connection. 

References

Jepsen, J. (n.d.). The illusion of intimacy: Fans prone to forming parasocial relationships with celebrities. [online] Spartan Shield. Available at: https://spartanshield.org/38396/feature/the-illusion-of-intimacy-why-were-prone-to-forming-parasocial-relationships-with-certain-celebrities/.

Think Critical (2025). Devotion in the Age of Screens: The Cult Dynamics of Modern Fandoms. [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@crit.think.veritas/devotion-in-the-age-of-screens-the-cult-dynamics-of-modern-fandoms-442c1bcb3476 [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].

Rosenberg, A. (2024). What are parasocial relationships doing to our brains? [online] National Geographic. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/parasocial-relationships-social-media.

Alsharif, M. (2025). Taylor Swift files for restraining order against alleged stalker, says he ‘makes me fear for my safety’. [online] NBC News. Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/taylor-swift-files-restraining-order-alleged-stalker-says-makes-fear-s-rcna212018 [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].

Culture, S. (2019). Fansplaining. [online] Fansplaining. Available at: https://www.fansplaining.com/episodes/101-stan-culture.

https://www.facebook.com/travis.paiz (2023). The Invisible Bond: Are Parasocial Relationships Unhealthy?» Simply Sound Advice. [online] Simply Sound Advice. Available at: https://simplysoundadvice.com/are-parasocial-relationships-unhealthy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].

Leo (2023). Inside the World of Parasocial Relationships: Why We Form Emotional Bonds with Celebrities – Psychologily. [online] Psychologily.com. Available at: https://psychologily.com/parasocial-relationships/?utm_source=chatgpt.com [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].