Why is it normal to grieve for a celebrity?

“Such a law would necessitate regular mental health check-ups, adequate rest periods, and the presence of mental health professionals on-set, including any ongoing support during their career. It will ensure a healthier, safer, and more conducive working environment for artists to cultivate their talents, reducing psychological distress. This would also include early interventions to protect and minimize before it’s too late. Furthermore, the increasing rate of musicians who die before the age of 35, is concerning. We need to act now!” Day explained.

“The artist’s role is invaluable not just in the world of entertainment but also in society. Let us ensure their protection and well-being. Your signature could be a lifeline for these talented individuals, contributing to a larger movement of mental health awareness and care in industries worldwide. Please, sign the petition. #LiamsLaw,” she appealed.

A sociologist from the University of Sydney, Dr. Georgia Carroll, studied fandom communities and she admitted that Liam’s death is one that is of global scale. She added that One Direction fans feel a deep connection with the lads over the past 14 years even if they have been on hiatus for nine years now.

“The entertainment industry, acclaimed for its glamour and stardom, is equally infamous for the enormous pressure it exerts on the mental health of artists. Resultant issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and even suicide are alarmingly high.”

According to research, performers are two to three times more likely to suffer from these issues compared to the general population. She labeled Liam’s death as the first major celebrity loss for Gen Z.

An associate professor at the University of Melbourne, Lauren Rosewarne, said: “One Direction is intimately twined with social media. Their rise coincided with the rise of social media use. So absolutely that idea of parasocial relationships, the idea of fans feeling like the band is communicating directly with them—that is stronger than any other band fan experience throughout history.” 

Experts pointed out that when Michael Jackson, Prince, John Lennon died, millions of fans mourned, but they were not as connected and as invested in social media as today’s fans.

In Australia, data show that young people are increasingly struggling with their mental health. In Australia, eight out of 10 people are concerned about the mental health of the young people. And since One Direction has a huge fan base in Australia, grieving Liam’s loss made it to the news.

“It’s just really important to recognize that it’s okay to grieve, even though we didn’t know Liam as a real person. Fans still have these memories that are tied up in their fandom: in seeing the band, in listening to their music, in engaging with the friendships they’ve built around being a One Direction fan.”

“And, of course, that is going to mean you feel real grief and real sadness. And there’s been some discourse because, obviously, One Direction fans — it’s not just girls being emotional. It is a real and valid sense of grief because we did have a relationship with him.”

Asking a grieving fan, “Why are you upset?” is like dismissing their emotion as foolish or frivolous. We have to acknowledge that grieving Liam or any celebrity we idolize is normal. Daily routines may change when grieving.

“They feel like they lost a friend,” said the director of the addictions counseling program and assistant clinical professor of the counseling and family therapy department at Drexel University, Ebony White. “Sometimes parents and teachers lose teens because we don’t connect with how personal it was for them.”

Robbie Williams, Liam’s mentor in X Factor, posted on X shortly after the grave news confirmation from Buenos Aires: “How to make sense of the Liam Payne tragedy? Obviously, my first feelings towards his passing were like everyone else. Shock, sadness, and confusion. And to be honest as I write these words that’s where I still am.

“I met the boys on The X Factor and ‘mentored’ them....Our paths have crossed ever since and I’m fond of them all. Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did,” he wrote. “I guess in these moments it’s worth repeating: We don’t know what’s going on in people’s lives, what pain they’re going through and what makes them behave in the way they behave. Before we reach to judgment, a bit of slack needs to be given.”

“Before you type anything in the internet, have a think: ‘Do I really need to publish this?’ because that’s what you are doing. Your publishing your thoughts for anybody to read. Even if you don’t really think that celebrities or their families exist. They do. Skin and bone and immensely sensitive,” continued Williams.

“As individuals, though, we have the power to change ourselves. We can be kinder. We can be more emphatic. We can at least try to be more emphatic. We can at least try to be more compassionate towards ourselves, our family, our friends, strangers in life and strangers on the Internet. Even famous strangers need your compassion. Be kind,” he concluded.