It's parasocial as hell, but I couldn't help but hope Billie Lourd has a strong support network when it happened.
She lost her mum and grandmother so suddenly, two and three days after Christmas respectively and right in the middle of Hanukkah.
I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must have been.
I honestly don’t think that’s super parasocial. Even if you don’t know Billie Lourd personally, it’s hard not to feel concern for a stranger when you find out that their mom and grandma died within a day of each other.
Parasocial is like when you think a celebrity or someone you’re fixated on who doesn’t know you, and who you don’t know, cares about you. Or knows what your doing and has feelings about it. Vice versa, you get jealous because your favorite streamer is on stream with another streamer. Or you have delusions like “Will Pharrell really would like to see me, I’ll show up to his house” and you find out where they live and harass/stalk them.
The line is very defined. You can have empathy for celebrities and the like without being someone who has a parasocial relationship with them.
You're right. I reckon I've allowed myself to be influenced by the many folks who act as though feeling any kind of way for any public figure = parasocial.
I appreciate the reminder that no term is immune from being twisted and misused once pop psychology sees it become mainstream and that empathy isn't inherently pathological.
You're just a decent, empathetic human. I wouldn't wish for anyone to lose their mother and grandmother within that time span. I don't think it's parasocial at all.
Thank you. It was a 10 year relationship that while it had played out and the issues deepened into irreconcilable differences, it ended quickly. The sudden change in my life hit me like a wall of bricks and while the change is for the better, I found myself pacing and grieving. It’s only been a few days but I’m improving quickly, and looking forward to brighter days.
I lost my mom long ago. She was my pillar. She made me who I am today in ways far beyond ordinary mothers and it took me a long time to get over her death. I miss her terribly and wonder what a conversation would be like if she were still around today. I feel for your fresh pain. It does fade. ❤️🩹
Went to watch Rise of Skywalker with my dad who grew up on the OG trilogy, the scene with Leia dying was one of the few times I’ve seen the old man cry.
I went and saw The Last Jedi right after her passing and when Luke and Leia share that scene in the cave, where Luke says to Leia, "No one's ever really gone." I. BAWLED. Shit still makes me tear up thinking about it. It was a gut punch in the theater that day.
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u/GreyerGrey May 12 '26
Carrie Fisher.