Opinion

Celebrity Culture Has Gone Too Far

Sammy Nishihama, Co-Editor-In-Chief • January 20, 2026

Sandra Bullock + Joshua Corbett, an obsessed fan who broke into her house (Source: Today Show)

Fan accounts will exist; it’s inevitable and a staple part of celebrity culture. What isn’t a staple, however, is the obsession that many people have begun to develop with the celebrity of their choosing. Whether living through them vicariously, or falsely believing in a relationship with their favorite actor that simply doesn’t exist, the obsession with celebrities has gone too far, especially on social media.

From the celebrity lookalikes who take it too far, to people who dedicate their internet lives to digging up their favorite celebrity’s biggest secrets, the amount of obsession is beginning to become a part of celebrity culture that often leads to real danger for the celebrities involved. This type of celebrity obsession has resulted in assaults and break-ins to various celebrities’ homes. In 2014, actress Sandra Bullock’s home was broken into by a stalker: “The violation of that. I wasn’t the same after that. I was unraveling,” she said.

Taylor Swift has also had run-ins with her fair share of stalkers, with two men breaking into her home on a total of three separate occasions, and both being ordered to undergo psychological treatment and evaluation. “You get enough stalkers trying to break into your house and you kind of start prepping for bad things,” she wrote in an Elle Magazine column.

Additionally, the harm to oneself for engaging in such behavior is often overlooked – continuing to participate in “celebrity worship” behavior can worsen already existing mental health issues. The term “celebrity worship” is typically analyzed at three levels. The first level is classified as the lowest, which researchers would call the most typical fans of any given celebrity. No mental health issues have been correlated with this level. However, at the second and third level, researchers have discovered ties to anxiety, depression, and obsessive behaviors.

The obsession with celebrities is not just an individual problem – when spread on social media, it can encourage others, especially those in vulnerable states of mind such as teens and people with preexisting mental health issues, to engage in such harmful behavior. Social media has presented an opportunity for those with obsessions with celebrities to share their actions with the world, and while many people recognize the issues with this, those who are vulnerable may begin to participate in the activity, creating even more mental health problems and risks for them.

The obsession with celebrities has gone too far. Rather than seeing fans being excited about new album releases, new movies, or even new relationships on social media, we are beginning to see in-depth analyses of celebrities, their lives, and accounts dedicated to either worshipping or tearing down a celebrity. The obsessions have become too normalized, and they pose mental health risks to those involved that have the potential to cause lifelong trauma.

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, BBC, Elle Magazine

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About the Contributor

Sammy Nishihama, Co-Editor-In-Chief

Senior Sammy Nishihama has a busy and exciting final year ahead. As someone who has always loved science, Sammy is taking AP Biology after completing AP Chemistry last year. After graduation, she plans to major in biology and intends to go into forensic science. “I really like science. I was sure that I wanted to do something in that field. And I also really like true crime and wanted to combine both,” she said. “Sammy is a really intelligent and empathetic person,” her girlfriend Naomi Gonzalez said.“She is probably one of my biggest supporters and helps me in so many different ways. She is also my best friend, and I am so grateful for that.” Outside of class, Nishihama likes painting, especially recreating pictures she finds online. She is also involved in the varsity golf team at Morro Bay High School and the theater department, where she participates in the costume crew, as well as is the club’s secretary. She shared that she really likes the community in her drama club. “It is a little chaotic, but I really think that brings us all closer together. And that kinda makes the club what it is,” she said. This is Nishihama’s fourth year in Journalism and her second year as an editor-in-chief.“I have written a lot of articles, but my favorite thing is helping people improve their writing,” she said. “It’s fun to see them being proud of their articles.” When asked what she likes most about the MBHS, Nishihama talks about the community. “I know almost everyone here,” she said. “I grew up with most of these people, and it’s nice to recognize familiar faces in the hallways.” Despite her many achievements, Nishihama has faced challenges too. “During my sophomore year, I struggled with anxiety and found it difficult to give presentations in front of the class,” she said. However, she was able to overcome them in her junior year and was able to handle them much better. Nishihama looks forward to enjoying her last year of high school. “I am just looking forward to having fun and making a lot of good memories because I am a senior and gonna be leaving,” she said. Her creativity and talent make her an important part of both the theater and Spyglass.