The artist’s relationship with their fans is a bit of an unspoken contract: fans power an artist’s success, and, as a result, the artist must do everything in their power to connect and, furthermore, please their fans. But where do you cross the line? At what point do you separate the art from the artist? If you work in the music business, you already know this: these lines are very blurry.
Doja Cat is someone who has very publicly attempted, more than once over the years, to keep her fans in check. In a since deleted Threads account, she recently retaliated at her fans over a variety of issues: criticizing her for who she chooses to date, calling themselves "kittenz" or supporting her “cash grabs” pop-leaning tracks like “Planet Her”. While her approach is definitely on the unorthodox side, she’s doing what most artists don't typically have the courage to do: draw a line with their fans. Doja Cat has always had a unique relationship with her fandom but things seem to have taken a more radical turn recently, as expressed in her recent “Attention” single. Whether that's her authentic approach to handling fans, or a tactic that leverages people's appetite for shock value content, this is not the first time Doja draws our attention to the concept of parasocial relationships. This intricate dynamic blurs the lines between reality and perception, leaving both artists and fans in an intricate dance of connection and detachment.
The term "parasocial relationship" was coined in the 1950s by psychologists Horton and Wohl to describe the illusion of a one-sided bond formed between media consumers and the personalities they see on screen. Over the years, this concept has evolved with the advent of social media, enabling fans to follow artists' personal lives, thoughts, and interactions more closely than ever before. Through behind-the-scenes content, spontaneous IG and TikTok lives, artists open up avenues for fans to perceive them beyond their creative output.
This transformation has allowed fans to feel intimately connected to the artists whose music they love. However, this intimacy is often an illusion. Fans may feel as though they know the artist on a personal level and demand the type of behavior that matches their expectation. This asymmetrical relationship typically leads to a sense of extreme attachment on the fan's part, which can often manifest in radical ways - as we've recently seen with Bebe Rexha's hospitalization after a fan threw his cellphone at her face back in June; Pink’s ash remains gift handed over by a fan on stage this summer; or Phoebe Bridgers' stalker from a few years back. Others, like Travis Scott, have built a reputation around intentionally engaging with fans in a way that encourages that type of behavior. When these types of boundaries are crossed, however, the consequences can be harmful or even deadly.
Fame is a double-edged sword. Most artists struggle with maintaining the delicate balance between their true selves and the persona they project online. The pressure to consistently engage and share aspects of their lives can be overwhelming, as Tokimonsta pointed out on her IG the other day. The parasocial relationship raises important ethical considerations. Fans may feel entitled to opinions on an artist's personal life or decisions, sometimes crossing boundaries and invading privacy.
The artist-fan bond is a complex interplay of perception, connection, and detachment. It underscores the transformative power of digital media in shaping how we interact with public figures - whether it's in entertainment, politics or health & wellness. While this relationship can provide a sense of belonging and inspiration, it's crucial for both artists and fans to navigate its thin lines with delicate care.