“A vast majority of One Direction fans became fans in their teen years and young adulthood,” said Georgia Carroll, a sociologist and expert on fan and celebrity culture who became a “Directioner” in 2011 at the age of 17.
“During this time, people are going through significant periods of change and transformation, and the celebrities they love during this time can function as anchors in otherwise chaotic times,” she explained. “You’re going through friendship changes, first crushes and heartbreaks, finishing school and heading to university, but your favorite band can be the constant and a source of joy and happiness and belonging.”
Carroll noted that Payne was only 31, around the same age of many of his fans, who wouldn’t expect to lose a peer in their generation so soon, especially without warning. Questions about the nature of his death amid ongoing investigations also add to the sense of loss and feeling untethered.
One 29-year-old fan, Bailey V., told HuffPost she was completely shocked by the news.
“I idolized One Direction when I was younger,” she said. “Not only were they super cute and I had a huge crush on all of them, but ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ and ‘Best Song Ever’ are key core memory tracks of that time in my life. Hearing news about celebs who played such a big impact on our lives in earlier years feels like hearing this news about an old friend.”
The death of a musician you loved as a teenager and young adult prompts powerful feelings of nostalgia.
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