Grieving Through A Screen

Grieving Through a Screen: Understanding the Impact of Celebrity Deaths

Story by Ashley Murawski | Design & Illustration by Shoshanah Davis

After basketball superstar Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, lost their lives in a helicopter crash, the world was reminded of how quickly a life can be taken.

Time becomes a standstill when you hear that you have lost a celebrity you’ve looked up to.

Celebrity deaths affect everyone in a different way. They all have such an impact on society, but why exactly does it hurt so bad when they pass? Every day through social media, television, movies and music we gain a connection to celebrities. From those connections feeling personal grief can be completely normal when a celebrity passes away.

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Grief Recovery Method Specialist and CWU alumna, Cali Hunn, says celebrities “inspire us and encourage us to chase our dreams. We also feel like we know them.”

That personal inspiration gives society a connection to those we haven’t actually met. Because of this, when a celebrity passes away, social media posts about that person consume everyone’s feeds and are all anyone can think about.

Yet, as a community, is it people wanting to show they cared for the celebrity or are they simply jumping on the bandwagon?

Recently affected by Kobe Bryant’s death and junior Business and Marketing major, Thomas Butler, says, “I don’t think people necessarily hop on a bandwagon when a celebrity dies, rather people are able to put their difference of opinion with the celebrity aside and appreciate them for the human they were.”

Collectively mourning helps individuals cope with their sadness and pain. Natalie Porter, Family and Child Life lecturer, says, “We collectively mourn celebrities because they remind us of ourselves and our own mortality, our childhoods and our loved ones.”

Now, celebrities have all the fame and are constantly in the public eye. Celebrities are already acknowledged for their talents every day, and their legacies follow their passing. Senior Public Health major and boyfriend of author Ashley Murawski, Ramiro Amezcua, says, “We celebrate … to carry on the memory or legacy of [the celebrity] and just appreciate what [they] did for them or for the community as a whole.”

The public is influenced and inspired by celebrity accomplishments. People relate and create a bond through their work that leaves a lasting imprint. The one-way relationship that is created with a celebrity death causes mourning and grief weighed down on oneself. Porter says, “We relate to [celebrities’] art, creations [and] accomplishments in some way and we see ourselves in them.”

Celebrity deaths have created several moments of grievance that majorly impacted American society. The deaths of Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Paul Walker and David Bowie have left lasting memories and impacts on many communities.

“When a big celebrity dies, as weird as it sounds, it almost draws people closer together,” says Butler. The fan base of the celebrity join together as a community and reflects on the memories of their life.

The passing of a celebrity sometimes comes as a surprise to the public and makes the grieving process hit harder.

Once a person passes, generally a funeral takes place, mourning the life that has been lost. Yet, there is also a celebration of life that shows death in a positive light.

Butler says, “People celebrate people’s lives after they have already passed because that marks the end of that individual’s story.”

Grieving is a normal process and a way to cope with death. Hunn explains, “The grieving process is unique to each person and unique to each relationship.”

Being there for the person grieving is essential. Hunn adds, “Please remember you do not need to ‘fix’ the grieving person. We all want and need to be seen and heard.”

Even though you may have never met the celebrity, the memories and connection create that friendship-like bond. That perceived connection with the celebrity triggers the grief and sadness once they pass; it can feel like the loss of a family member.

“There are many theories that attempt to capture the grief process,” explains Porter. It can be important to remember that the grief process is individual, and each process is unique and changes case by case.

Coping with a celebrity passing or a death in general can take some time. Remember to be considerate of others’ feelings and be there for them.

Grieving over a celebrity is completely normal and there are ways to cope with that grievance. Porter summarizes, “Experiencing grief and loss is inevitable and unavoidable.” While here on Earth, don’t take life for granted and cherish each moment.