Are Celebrity Stalkers Different from Other Stalkers?
Yes and no. Yes, in that the initial relationship (or lack thereof) between the celebrity and the stalker is unlike that of the typical pursuer. Over 90 percent of “regular” stalking victims are stalked by someone they know, either a former lover, an acquaintance or a family member. In contrast, the vast majority of celebrity stalkers have never met the object of their obsession; the relationship is entirely based on either delusion (we’re secretly married) or fantasy (if you just met me, you’d realize we were meant to be together).
This may be a reflection of the fact that, unlike stalkers who pursue us common folks, the majority of celebrity stalkers tend to suffer from a major mental illness such asschizophrenia or erotomania.
The Bottom Line
Today’s celebrities are often caught between a rock and a hard place. The social engagement with the public that is increasingly expected as part of their promotion of productions and projects can fuel the flames of a disturbed psyche. This is especially true in the pseudo-intimacy of cyberspace.
While it’s hard to get statistics on celebrity stalking, it appears to be on the rise; in aninterview with L.A. Management Unit detective Mary Lopez, she revealed that 20% of her current stalking caseload involves celebrities, in comparison to 10% in 2008. And more than 90% are internet-related. There’s no denying the perks that fame and money bring; but for those who are pursued by a relentless fan, celebritydom can feel like a suffocating castle sieged by an enemy.
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