Fandom culture has given rise to a new phenomenon of famous fans, who gain their own fame by being associated with a particular celebrity or influencer.
Fan communities possess several traits that facilitate the emergence of famous fans, including a supportive and engaged audience, a passion for the celebrity or influencer, and a sense of community and belonging.
The journey of famous fans showcases the evolving dynamics of fan culture in the digital age, blurring the lines between being a fan and being a content creator.
The fan-to-famous fan pipeline can have negative consequences, such as entitlement, invasion of privacy, and impact on mental health and reputations. It is important for both creators and fans to set boundaries and understand appropriate relationship dynamics.
Deep dives
Fandom culture and the rise of famous fans
Fandom culture has given rise to a new phenomenon of famous fans, individuals who gain their own fame by being associated with a particular celebrity or influencer. These famous fans often produce content or commentary about the celebrity, building their own audience and platform in the process. They may also gain notoriety by participating in events or creating fan communities.
The traits of fan communities that enable the rise of famous fans
Fan communities possess several traits that facilitate the emergence of famous fans. These include a supportive and engaged audience, a passion for the celebrity or influencer, and a sense of community and belonging. These traits provide a fertile ground for individuals to gain attention and recognition within the fan community, leading to their own fame.
Examples of famous fans and their path to fame
Several recent examples showcase the journey of famous fans and their path to fame. This includes Bravo podcasters who have built successful careers around discussing Bravo TV, drama channels and commentary creators who have gained a following by analyzing and dissecting celebrity drama, and super fans who have become integral parts of celebrity and influencer events and communities.
The significance of famous fans in fan culture
The emergence of famous fans highlights the evolving dynamics of fan culture in the digital age. It demonstrates the impact and influence that fans can have within their respective communities, and the potential for individuals to transform their own fandom into personal fame. Famous fans blur the lines between being a fan and being a content creator, also showcasing the power and reach of social media platforms in amplifying their voices.
The Three Types of Fans: YouTube Creator News
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the three types of fans that can become famous within online communities. The first type is the beloved fan who is admired for their commitment to the fandom and their proximity to the celebrity or creator. The second type is the celebrity look-alike fan, who dresses, acts, and looks like the celebrity or influencer they idolize. These fans often attract controversy due to their imitations. The third type is the fan who gains fame through their close proximity to the fan object, such as being part of a fan group or establishing a personal relationship with the celebrity or creator. The hosts highlight the dangers and complexities that can arise from these fan-to-famous fan dynamics, including issues of entitlement, invasion of privacy, and the impact on the mental health and reputations of both the fans and the celebrities or influencers involved.
The Negative Effects of Entitlement in Fan Culture
The hosts delve into the potential negative consequences that can arise from the fan-to-famous fan pipeline. They explore how fans' sense of entitlement can impact both the celebrity or influencer and other fans. This entitlement can lead to toxic behavior, gatekeeping, and a mob mentality within the fandom. They also discuss the psychological reasons behind this phenomenon, including low self-esteem and celebrity worship syndrome. The hosts emphasize the need for creators to set boundaries and for fans to have a better understanding of the appropriate relationship dynamics between fans and celebrities.
The Influence of Social Media and the Rise of Famous Fans
The hosts examine the role of social media, particularly TikTok, in the rise of famous fans. They highlight how platforms like TikTok provide more visibility and opportunities for fans to be discovered and recognized by the mainstream. They discuss the financial incentives that can influence fans' desire to become famous, as well as the mentorship dynamic that often develops between creators and their fans. The hosts also explore the impact of cancel culture and the complexities of fame in the online world, emphasizing the need for creators and fans to navigate these dynamics responsibly.
In this week’s episode, we explore fandom culture from an angle we haven’t looked at before – the fan-to-”famous fan” pipeline (46:56). While “famous fans” are definitely not a new phenomenon, it’s a growing one over the past few years as virality becomes easier to obtain. We look at some recent examples of “famous fans”— like Johnny Silvestri, Ashley Leechin, Adam McIntyre, and Paige Neimann— and what this says about fan culture online, including the traits of fan communities that make it easier for individuals to rise through the ranks and become celebrities/objects of the fan culture themselves.
Timestamps:
06:04 Talk to Me recap with SPOILERS!
08:57 The Summer I Turned Pretty recap
11:05 Gran Turismo recap
20:12 Madeline Argy apologises for joke TikTok about wanting to live in a “sundown town”
27:07 TikTok Singer Rodger Cleye accused of preying on 19-year old aspiring singer Olivia McCraw
43:48 Trisha Paytas apologises to Addison Rae and Charli D’Amelio & Dixie D’Amelio for publicly dragging them in years past
46:56 From Johnny Silvestri to Ashley Leechin: The Evolution of Superfans to “Famous Fans”
48:10 What is a "famous fan"?
48:30 Three ways that fans become "famous fans"
53:22 Recap of recent Swoop exposé about Colleen Ballinger superfan-to-"famous fan" Johnny Silvestri
57:40 How someone falls down the superfan-to-"famous fan" pipeline
