The recent deaths of iconic figures such as Dolly Parton, Gloria Steinem, Bob Mackie, and Tim Curry have triggered a wave of public mourning that extends far beyond traditional funeral rites. Fans and colleagues alike have taken to digital platforms and public spaces to pay tribute, highlighting a growing intersection between collective grief and the psychological concept of parasocial relationships.
Parasocial relationships are defined by the Journal of Current Opinion in Psychology as nonreciprocal social-emotional connections with public figures. Although these individuals are primarily known through media appearances, many people feel a deep, personal bond with them due to their significant impact on personal lives. When a celebrity passes away, this dynamic often results in what experts call parasocial grief.
According to psychotherapist and NYU adjunct professor Olivia Verhulst, this type of grief stems from a one-sided sense of familiarity. “Relationships don’t need to be reciprocal for feelings to be real,” Verhulst stated, noting that loss can evoke shock, disbelief, or a confrontation with one’s own mortality regardless of the relationship’s nature.
A 2025 study published in Acta Psychologica indicated that parasocial grief can adversely affect mental health, potentially leading to unhealthy coping strategies such as substance use. However, the communal aspect of this sorrow offers distinct benefits. Gina Moffa, a grief therapist and author of Moving on Doesn’t Mean Letting Go, explains that shared bereavement is more diffuse than individual grief because it lacks traditional rituals like funerals. In response, online comment sections have evolved into public memorials, allowing grievers to find validation and connection.
Recent tributes illustrate this phenomenon vividly. After Steinem’s death, supporters left flowers and cards outside her residence. Following Parton’s passing, fans at a Harry Styles concert in Madison Square Garden held up illuminated phones while her song “I Will Always Love You” played, a moment that was widely shared across social media.
Verhulst emphasizes that the key advantage of communal sorrow is that it is “witnessed.” Because humans are inherently social, sharing grief can provide comfort that isolated mourning cannot. This tradition of public mourning is not new, with historical examples including the deaths of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Princess Diana, whose funeral drew an estimated 2.5 billion television viewers.
Social media has accelerated this trend, functioning as a “modern funeral” where geographical barriers no longer hinder mourning, according to Moffa. Research supports this approach; a 2022 meta-review in Frontiers in Psychology discusses the theory of collective effervescence, originally coined by sociologist Émile Durkheim. This concept describes an intense state of shared emotional activation and unity that fosters long-term connections among those who understand the pain of loss.
Moffa noted that when Parton and Steinem died close together, online spaces became genuine gathering points where people shared how these women shaped their lives. This shared narrative reduces the isolation often associated with grief.
Experts also recommend professional support and personal rituals for those struggling. Cognitive behavioral therapy can provide a safe environment to process loss without shame, while integration techniques—such as listening to the deceased’s music, reading their work, or writing down personal memories—can aid in healing. A 2026 study in the journal Death Studies found that sharing emotions and ceremonies offers a sense of meaning, solidarity, and healing.
While adaptation is crucial, Verhulst cautions against outdated notions of linear grieving stages. She asserts there is no universal path to healing, but for many, the most effective way to mourn the loss of a celebrity is together.
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