By Kylie McHugh and Michelle Freeland
Kylie: Hi, my name is Kylie!
Michelle: My name is Michelle!
Kylie: For this issue, we wanted to talk about separating fans from stars.
Michelle: We want to focus on the blurred line between fans and celebrities and how fans have started to feel they are entitled to know all aspects of their lives.
A specific case of this can be seen through the Taylor Swift fanbase, where some fans, not all, showcase a deep devotion to the singer’s entire life. Swift can’t attend a football game, a dinner in New York City, or a grocery store without every form of social media capturing the moment and spending hours depicting every facial expression and outfit. Her line of work also lends itself to the fan’s attachment through her songs, which give insight into past relationships or carefully crafted easter eggs into what her next album might be.
Kylie: At the 2025 Super Bowl, pictures of her leaving a bathroom with her bodyguard caught the attention of social media. Many criticized the singer for needing her bodyguard in a bathroom, but weirdly, no one was bothered by the people taking pictures of her in the bathroom. This led to a discussion over where the line between feeling entitled toward an artist versus being a fan lies. Swift’s fans were quick to point out that the very people taking photos of her leaving a bathroom were the reason why she would need a bodyguard at all times.
Michelle: Many fans of Swift and similar celebrities feel they are in a relationship with them. They want to know who they are dating, where they are taking their vacations and their favorite restaurants. The truth, however, is that many are in parasocial relationships with these influential celebrities, meaning it is very much one-sided.
Kylie: Too many people invest so much time and energy into celebrities that, quite frankly, don’t know they exist. As a self-proclaimed fangirl, I can admit how upsetting this truth can be. When a singer writes a song that speaks to your every emotion or an actor portrays a character that feels too close to home, it is easy to trick your mind into thinking you know them and they know you.
Michelle: I can relate because I have been a very dedicated fan of Lizzy McAlpine since her SoundCloud days. A song from her most recent album, Older, has recently been a personal anthem, as if she read my mind when writing it. The song, “Staying”, has been a real backbone for me during this moment in my life, and it makes it easy to feel that she knows me, even though we have never met. However, my mind can separate myself from her and acknowledge that I am not her only fan and not the only one her music resonates with.
Kylie: I myself am a huge fan of Taylor Swift. I won’t lie; I love to theorize about who the songs could be about, and I love to read into each lyric, outfit, and easter egg. Being a fan for around 14 years, yeah I’d say it’s pretty easy to get caught up in everything and think that I know her. However, as a sane person, I can also recognize that I know Taylor Swift as much as she wants me to know. She is, in my opinion, the best at easter eggs, and she does it for a reason. She has a hugely dedicated fanbase, and I love being a part of it. But with so much success comes the drawback of so many deeply obsessed people who make Taylor their whole lives.
Michelle: This also creates an ethical question about fandom culture. What does it mean to be a fan in the digital age? Is it okay to consume everything about a celebrity’s life, or should we focus more on creating boundaries and celebrating artistry without including their personal lives?
It is worth mentioning that, like everything else, fandom is an ever-evolving thing. Back in the day, fans had limited access to celebrities, creating a clearer separation between their public and private lives. Now, with the internet and social media, these platforms have blurred the lines, making it harder for a fan to distinguish between the public persona and the private individual.
Kylie: These parasocial relationships are not only dangerous for the celebrities but also for regular, everyday people. And we aren’t saying you shouldn’t be a devoted fan. For many people, having a Lizzy McAlpine or a Taylor Swift is a comfort, there just needs to be that separation between your life and their life.
