Celebrity deaths, sad, but why do we act as if we know them personally? . . .

It’s something I've always wondered, but it wasn't until the end of 2013 that I really took notice at just how OTT some people get when a high profile person, or celebrity dies.

When any one dies, it’s a sad occurrence, when it’s our family or friends it’s devastating, and when it’s a celebrity, someone we have seen in numerous films, on TV, someone we’ve seen in concerts or MTV and so on, how should we feel?  Because, for the majority of the world do not even know them personally, we've never even met them.

So why is it some people become emotional wrecks when a celebrity dies?

Understandably, it could be the fact the person starred in their favourite film, sang their favourite song, or was a main character in their favourite TV show. They have come to know this person through the work that they do and feel a strong connection to them on that basis. But in reality, does that really make a difference? They are still a stranger to that person, and the celebrity may even be completely different to the persona the fans have come to know and love. The fact is, the only people that really know celebrities are their family and close friends.

It only takes a few hours before #RIP circles the internet after news of a celebs death. I, myself have often posted #RIP to pay respects to a celebrity who has touched my life in some way.

James Gandolfini

When James Gandolfini died in June of this year, I was devastated at such a loss, not to myself, but to the industry and of course his family and friends. I, like millions of others, was a massive fan of the Sopranos, and despite the fact the series had ended, somehow, Gandolfini’s death made it even more final.

Paul Walker

When actor Paul Walker tragically died on November 30th, in a car accident alongside his friend Rodger Rodas, I couldn't believe all the rubbish I was seeing and reading on-line. There were fake pictures, conspiracy theories, people saying he was actually still alive and then in between all the #RIP Paul Walker pictures on facebook, was a picture with the wording #RIP to the driver that died with Paul Walker that no one cares about because he wasn't famous.

Totally ridiculous - #RIP Rodger Rodas, most people do genuinely care that you lost your life 

Things were just getting out of hand. Why couldn't everyone just pay their respects to a popular actor, a person who did his utmost with his charities and a from what fellow celebrities and his family have said, he was an amazing man. Why couldn't fans maybe a little status on why they ‘loved’ him, what their favourite film with him in was (He did do more than Fast & Furious!) just nice and simple.

The same could be said when Corey Monteith died in July this year, some Glee fans were inconsolable, which baffled me, when his partner at the time Lea Michele, someone who shared his life, not just watched him on TV, managed to show so much strength and composed herself beautifully soon after his death, when attending an awards show, even speaking about him.

Corey Monteith

Other celebrities who caused fans to react unnaturally were Heath Ledger (2008), Amy Winehouse (2011), Whitney Houston (2012) and of course Michael Jackson (2009).

The ‘shock’ of Michael Jackson’s death is still continuing to this day, with people becoming obsessed with his children.

Throughout all these celebrity deaths and more, I've of course felt sadness, but i've also bit my lip when I read people’s ridiculous tweets and FB statuses; everyone just seems to jump on the bandwagon.

A perfect example would be when TOWIE Babe Jessica Wright tweeted #RIP Kim Jong-il (OH DEAR?!)  Yes, she really did tweet this. I'm guessing she had absolutely no idea of any little thing that Kim Jong-il had done over his lifetime, but still felt the need to type #RIP.

Would she be dangerous if she had a brain?!

So when Nelson Mandela died, I just couldn't bite my lip any longer and told it how it was, much to the shock of my FB friends! On December 5th, I woke up to a stream of #RIP NELSON MANDELA statuses. Now normally it wouldn't have really bothered me, he was know as a peace keeper and a great man BUT ….

He was also a terrorist! He was responsible for thousands of deaths, in fact he wasn't taken off the USA Terrorist list until 2008! So this is not me being disrespectful to Nelson Mandela, it’s facts, hard facts!

As soon as I made this known, the comments under my status began to get filled. Hardly anybody knew this about him, yet they put #RIP up for him. I'm not saying he didn't deserve peoples respects, i’m just saying how can people give their supposedly heartfelt respects and sympathies when they do not know anything about the person.

I work with facts!!!

The truth is, we seem to be fascinated with celebrity deaths, the media goes into over-drive, the internet follows and we’re all suddenly the recently deceased biggest fan... baffles me to say the least!