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Hollywood’s Growing Problem With Superfans
Obsessed // Image by Kait Cunniff with DALL-E
Hollywood has spent years cultivating devoted fan communities around its biggest stars and franchises. Now, publicists are discovering that the most passionate fans may also be the hardest to manage, per WIRED.
Behind the Fans: Social media has changed what it means to be a fan. Audiences aren’t just following celebrities anymore — they’re helping shape the conversation around them.
Fan communities have become a powerful marketing force, with some fan pages attracting larger audiences than traditional entertainment outlets.
That level of devotion can quickly spill into the real world. A recent dispute between two superfans of the breakout series Heated Rivalry drew attention after one accused the other of stalking an actor during Paris Fashion Week.
Publicists say fans today aren’t just following celebrities online — they’re tracking their every move, making privacy and personal boundaries increasingly difficult to maintain.
In 2024, Chappell Roan found herself at the center of multiple news cycles after speaking out about fans crossing those boundaries.
The Tradeoff: Hollywood has always counted on loyal fans to spread the word. But as fan communities become more influential, publicists are learning that fan enthusiasm comes with tradeoffs. As Eddie Tabakman, founder of Eddie the Media Trainer, told WIRED, “Fandom’s great, and it’s a huge asset, but if you don’t manage it accordingly, it can end up hurting you.”
What's Next: The relationship between studios and their biggest fans is becoming more complicated. As audiences play a larger role in promoting movies, TV shows, and celebrities, studios may have less control over how those narratives ultimately unfold.
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Today’s email was written by Nick Comney and Kait Cunniff.
Polled and Copy-edited by Kait Cunniff.
Published by Darline Salazar.