Celebrity Next Door
By Riley Salgado Sep. 23, 2026
When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married, an artist named Justin Gignac began selling a limited collection of 50 tiny acrylic cubes filled with garbage collected from the streets of the New York City venue. Items like used utensils priced at $25 reportedly sold out in less than 24 hours. Although the trash had no confirmed connection to either celebrity, fans still viewed it as valuable simply because it may have come from an environment associated with them. The incident demonstrates the extent to which fans can assign extraordinary value to ordinary objects based on their connection to celebrities they admire.
Parasociality refers to a one-sided relationship where a fan feels a deep, unreciprocated connection to a public figure. Yet, they are not necessarily unhealthy. UCLA research has shown that parasocial relationships can reduce loneliness and provide comfort or a sense of security, allowing people to explore their identities and find community with others who share their interests. Additionally, Vogue describes fandoms as a form of parasocial relationships; people in music fandoms, for example, can feel comforted or connected to an artist’s music. However, stronger relationships can lead to social avoidance and extreme obsession.
“Parasocial relationships are mostly the fans’ problems if their feelings are severe. They should learn how to build actual relationships with people they know rather than chasing stars they can never reach,” Freshman Alayna Wang said.
Part of this connection comes from how much access fans now have to public figures. Social media allows fans to see glimpses of their personal lives, while fan meetings and gifts can create moments of direct interaction. As celebrities become more accessible, the boundary between admiration and personal entitlement can become less clear. Haley Besser, an entertainment press conference member, mentioned that “These fans clearly don’t see celebrities as human beings with feelings, but as objects of affection.” The reaction to the garbage sold after Swift and Kelce’s wedding reflects this idea—fans assigned value to objects that were not necessarily connected to either celebrity simply because they might have been nearby.
Social media can make this perceived closeness even stronger by giving fans more insight into their private lives. By sharing their locations, routines, relationships and everyday experiences with their followers, celebrities can create the feeling that fans are watching their lives unfold in real time. While this access can strengthen the sense of community within a fandom, it can also contribute to extreme behavior when fans begin treating what they see online as an invitation to enter a celebrity’s private life. This shift has fueled extreme behaviors like stalking and assault. As fans develop a stronger sense of closeness with celebrities, some may begin to cross boundaries. Singer Chappell Roan has spoken publicly about inappropriate fan behavior, sharing that strangers were contacting people close to her and touching her without consent. Her experiences illustrate the difference between feeling connected to a celebrity and believing that connection gives a fan access to the celebrity’s personal life.
Parasociality exists on a spectrum that ranges from mild interest to severe obsession. Enjoying a concert or sending fan mail represents normal admiration, but stalking, blackmail and assault cross the line into criminal behavior.
“There’s a difference between being a fan of someone and feeling like you actually know them. Fans think they are so involved in celebrities’ lives even though all the information they get about them is through social media posts,” Sophomore Avery Chu said.
Parasocial relationships cannot be defined by a single action, but a connection that gives one fan comfort or community can become unhealthy when it develops into obsession or attachment. Understanding this distinction can help separate ordinary adoration from violating behavior. Being a fan is not inherently harmful; the concern begins when admiration turns into a sense of ownership or entitlement over a celebrity's life.
About the Contributors
Riley Salgado
Staff Writer
Riley Salgado is a freshman writer for Leland High School's newspaper. Outside of school, she plays lacrosse and enjoys hanging out with friends and listening to music.
Lucas Yi
Artist
Lucas Yi is a sophomore at Leland High, and is one of many artists for the Leland Charger Account. Lucas loves to paint an draw, especially with ink pens. In his free time, Lucas is often playing basketball with his friends or binge watching animes/movies, as he has nothing better to do when not hanging out with his pals.
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