This is a real syndrome? Who knew?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (28102)
February 22, 2022 11:33am CST
Celebrity worship syndrome is a real thing. I had no idea.
I know teenagers usually go through a few years that they follow pop stars, sports figures, actors, and such. I think of it as a teen thing, but evidently there are many adults who follow famous people.
One of my cousins is a huge follower to the royal family of England. She reads about their activities, follows all news about them, found some weird fake site that says Megan and Harry are really witches and are producing baby witches. A neighbor man is completely head over heels over Adele. He only listens to her music, he has her details memorized, and truth to say, it's creepy. He compares every woman he meets or knows to Adele. I hope he never meets anyone who looks a lot like her, as on this particular subject he displays no common sense at all. He would stalk that person, I'm totally convinced of that.
I recently read of a teenage girl who is obsessed with the Kardashians. She dyed her hair black, then blond, dresses like them, wants a ''back end'' implant, wants to meet them, basically she wants to be a Kardashian. She got a waist trainer. She purposely wore it constantly, which was leading to many health issues for her. All because she wanted to be like them.
I think it's fine to follow a celebrity or have a favorite if that's something you like to do. It's not for me. But to obsess like some people do can't be healthy for anyone of any age.
14 people like this
13 responses
@1creekgirl (40363)
• United States
22 Feb 22
It's a mental health issue, I think.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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22 Feb 22
I believe that to be true. Something is wrong if you worship a celebrity your entire life. I understand the teen obsession to a degree, but after that, no.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
22 Feb 22
I had a client one time that was obsessed with Dolly Parton.
I was resurfacing a resilient floor in her game room. The project took about a week and I was there every day to move things out, refinishing the floor and moving things back.
The whole house was like a shrine to Dolly. Pictures, memorabilia, rugs, furniture, pinball machines... So many items.
It would take all day to list them.
She played Dolly Parton music 24/7.
She had many medical procedures done to make her appearance similar to Dolly. She wore show outfits every day.
Every time I did something, she would say "Dolly would like that."
At first it was cute. After a week of it, it was just sad.
She paid without blinking an eye and handed me one of the most generous tips I had ever seen.
I went back a year or so later to change the tile in a closet.
She found tiles with images of Dolly on them.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
22 Feb 22
@MarieCoyle
She was very nice and kind. She even made me lunch every day I was there.
I think I saw Parton in an interview talking about lookalikes.
I recall her mentioning it was flattering but felt funny about it.
I'm pretty sure Parton would frown on this woman's obsession.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
•
22 Feb 22
This seems to be beyond obsession. And despite her showy appearance, Dolly does seem to be a ''real'' lady. I think she would stress to people not to copy others, but I don't really know.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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23 Feb 22
@Vikingswest1
It's one thing to admire someone, but a whole different deal when someone copies you to the extent this lady has!
1 person likes this
@kareng (54219)
• United States
22 Feb 22
@MarieCoyle Could be and also their brains 
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58438)
• Philippines
23 Feb 22
It is real and needs to be diagnosed.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58438)
• Philippines
23 Feb 22
@MarieCoyle true.
It has come to attention especially during this pandemic.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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23 Feb 22
@allen0187
Yes, it has. Mental health has been shamed for years, people are or were afraid to seek help when they really needed help. If you need it, you should not be afraid or embarrassed to get the help and possibly meds you need, ever.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
•
23 Feb 22
I think there is still a lot to be discovered and learned about mental health.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53801)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Feb 22
I have a friend (almost mid 50s) who is too into Kpop bands - she is more obsessed than her own young daughter. It's beyond liking the music - she posts all day on FB about it. This one is handsome, or a happy birthday to that one, or tears that she cannot attend a particular concert . . . her posts are directed to these young men as if she knows them 
- which she doesn't. But, I know she is in a lonely marriage and she has big time wishes that she were young again 
.
- which she doesn't. But, I know she is in a lonely marriage and she has big time wishes that she were young again .1 person likes this
. . . forever a teen at heart (and mind @MarieCoyle (28102)
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22 Feb 22
That's really sad, especially since she has a young daughter to raise.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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22 Feb 22
You're right, it's not healthy. I don't understand it at all, but some people really do this.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 Feb 22
@MarieCoyle There are many things I don't understand about people.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169441)
• United States
22 Feb 22
Yes, remaking yourself to look like your favorite celeb is taking it a bit too far, especially if plastic surgery is involved.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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22 Feb 22
Remember Octomom, who had the 8 babies years ago? Made herself over to try to look like Angelina Jolie. So ridiculous.
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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23 Feb 22
I thought maybe I just knew some strange people. ( Well, that's true, I do, but maybe we all do!)
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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22 Feb 22
I haven't either. But it's real, and evidently a lot of people do this.
@MarieCoyle (28102)
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23 Feb 22
Easily said, but hard to follow. As a parent, I do worry. I try to be positive and happy, but we all have our sad times, that's normal. As for don't feel too much? To me, that's like saying don't care too much. I don't think I could do that.
@healerWitch (417)
• Portugal
23 Feb 22
I never had this, but it can definitely be a serious problem affecting quality of life for the person afflicted, and at times, even for the celebrities. Giving them a god-like status is never a good thing for either side. This is usually a symptom that comes along with other mental health issues (talking about the high end of obsessiveness here, not a temporary fascination).
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28102)
•
23 Feb 22
We occasionally hear on the news that a celebrity has been stalked to the point of danger. No wonder so many of them try to live privately and often have security.
1 person likes this
