When a celebrity dies, parasocial ties can produce grief as intense as for a relative

Psychologists report patients mourning famous people they never met. One client, Jodie, struggled with work and sleep weeks after a well-known singer died; her distress resembled bereavement after a family loss. Parasocial relationships are one-sided psychological bonds with public figures who do not know the fan; they are common with actors, musicians or fictional characters and usually normal, but can sometimes cause serious emotional distress.