IDOL DEATH

AND IDOL DEATH

When tragedy strikes in the lives of those who are admired, resulting in death, a form of grief presents itself for the fans that looked up to them. Although the fan could’ve never even met their idol in person, or had the chance to see them live, the passing of an idol can have prevalent e ects on those who found themselves connected to the person in some way, ones that saw a part of themselves in the one that they called their idol. “When Cameron Boyce [an actor who passed away in July 2019] died it really impacted me,” freshman Erik Parsons said. “He was the reason I got in to acting, and when I found out that he had passed it really upset me.” Nowadays, with the levels of connection fans are able to gain with the use of social media platforms, constantly interacting with a celebrity’s online content has the ability to provide some of the same qualities of a real interpersonal relationship. Fans are able to gain a similar feeling to true interaction, all through the process of viewing online posts, engaging in comment threads, providing the ability for a fan to glimpse into the life of the idol at ease. With that, devoted fans can feel as if they lost a loved one when one of their idols passes away. “JuiceWrld [a hip-hop artist who passed away in December 2019] was one of the better types of people.” senior Gri n Lyons said. “I was able to connect with him through the motivation in his lyrics and the caring personality he had, which made it very di cult for me when he passed.” Despite the grieving period that soon accompanies the death of a pop culture fi gure, some of the most devoted fans have found ways to preserve the spirit of those who passed away. In the case of Mac Miller, a widely beloved musician who passed away in the fall of 2018, fans made every e ort possible to pay their respects, deciding to construct a memorial in Miller’s hometown of Pittsburgh consisting of a wall fi lled with murals and messages dedicated to him. Or in the case of Carrie Fisher, an actor best known for her roles in the Star Wars franchise who passed away in December 2016, fans gathered on the streets of downtown Los Angeles after her death for a celebrationof-life parade. Participants brought plastic lightsabers, a fi ctional lasersword frequently sported by characters in the Star Wars movies, and marched the streets of Hollywood Boulevard while appreciating Fisher’s life through chants and songs. When it comes to remembering an idol that passed away, an important part is continuing the legacy left behind, one that can be carried on by future generations. The January death of Kobe Bryant, a legendary professional basketball player who inspired others worldwide, caused fans to pay tribute to his philosophies in order to pay respect to his legacy. A common mantra repeated by fans after his passing was Bryant’s catch phrase: “Mamba Mentality”, a saying that consists of pushing one’s own limits and striving to improve in all aspects of life. Along with crowd gatherings, murals and online tributes from various supporters, basketball players around the world attempted to preserve Bryant’s ideas through their own lives. “Every time I’m on the court, I try my best to play my hardest to keep his legacy alive,” sophomore basketball player Joshua Jones said. “I try to play with his mindset of working hard and persevering through rough times.” With the continued support of an idol who has passed away, fans are able to utilize the negative parts that accompany the death of an idol and convert them into a positive outlook on the life left behind by them, appreciating the mark they left on the world and securing that the one they idolize is never forgotten. Story by Lucas Bisesi and Sierra Borkowski.

Actor and dancer Cameron Boyce died July 2019 from an epileptic seizure at 20. He was widely known Disney channel’s Jessie, and went on to play in many other movies and TV shows. Photo by Wikimedia.

Forty-one year old NBA player Kobe Bryant died Jan 2020 in a helicopter crash in California. Bryant accomplished a lot including playing 20 seasons with the LA Lakers, winning the NBA championships fi ve times. Photo by fl ickr.com.

In December 2020, Rapper Juice WRLD died at 21 from a seizure as a result of an accidental drug overdose. In the last two years of his life he climbed the billboard charts 25 times and released six platinum songs. Photo by Wikimedia.

HSENEWS 11 Sixty year old actress and writer Carrie Fisher, died Dec. 2016 from a combination of drugs and a heart attack. She made her fi lm debut in the movie Star Wars: A New Hope, and went on to play in many others. Photo by Wikimedia.