Has Matthew Perry’s death weighed on your soul? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!
The late comedian gave the world plenty of reasons to laugh despite his personal tragedies, which is why millions of people, especially the 90s to early 2000s generation, are mourning the loss of the Hollywood icon.
However, many could not understand why fans were upset by the unexpected death of the famous “Friends” star. For these critics and those who need validation of their feelings, here’s a psychological approach to understanding why entertainer deaths are such a big deal.
TikTok Psychologist Explains Why Fans Are Saddened By Matthew Perry’s Death
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After the beloved TV personality breathed his last on Saturday, October 28, fans of the NBC sitcom star took to social media platforms to mourn the 54-year-old’s death. Following this emotional reaction and tribute, a psychology and sociology instructor named Casey Lytle is thinking about why so many are devastated by Perry’s death.
In a recent TikTok video titled “Why celebrity deaths can hit so hard,” the author of “Debunked: Separate the Rational from the Irrational in Influential Conspiracy Theories” revealed he had seen the same question from two opposing sides about the late actor’s death.
Perry’s devotees wanted to know why they were so emotionally affected by the death of someone they didn’t know, while critics were upset that fans were grieving the loss of the TV personality. Pondering both questions, Lytle explained there was only one answer. The psychology professor said:
“There’s a very simple answer to this one. Sadness isn’t determined by proximity. Your brain doesn’t care if you’ve known them or not. Sadness is determined by the amount of emotional memories attached to that person.”
The TikTok sensation went on to say, “How many emotional experiences do you have through their media, whatever it is, if it’s TV, or movies, or music, or literature. Either way, that person has an emotional stake and an emotional connection to you through their work or through who they are.”
@caseylytle #psychology #sadness #matthewperry ♬ original sound – Casey – Psyc & Soc Instructor
Lytle explains that sometimes, celebrities like Perry, through their media, are connected to moments in our lives, giving them emotional significance. “And when that person is gone, your brain is sad that they’re gone,” the sociology instructor said, citing people’s sad reactions to the death of fictional characters. In the words of the media personality:
“Not only do you never really know them, subconsciously you know they’re not real characters that the actors aren’t dead, that they’re fictional. But that character, that fictional character, creates an emotion-based memory associated with that character, and when they die fictionally, your brain grieves because of that emotional connection.”
Lytle pointed out that fans are grieving because of their emotional connection to Perry through his movies, TV shows and personal life. The professor noted that the target audience for “Friends,” especially when the NBC sitcom aired in the ’90s, would be significantly affected by the performer’s departure, given their love for his character, Chandler Bing.
As for critics, the writer advises them to stop their harsh comments about Perry fans, saying, “Just because you don’t feel the same effect just because you don’t care about any of the characters doesn’t mean it’s not valid for them. I mean, are you going to go to someone else’s funeral and criticize the family for grieving that person?”
Lytle also assured fans that there was nothing “unusual or weird” about grieving Perry’s death since she was the first from the “Friends” cast to die. The media personality stated that his death hit all the harder considering that the entertainer struggled with addiction while filming the beloved show.
Fans & ‘Friends’ Cast React To Matthew Perry’s Death
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Following the sociology instructor’s post, some fans voiced similar sentiments about “Mr. Death of a Sunshine star” in the comments. One individual wrote, “I’m broken. Chandler said he was going to die alone, and Matthew Perry died alone.
“I think for most of us, Chandler is who we see ourselves as. Chandler using humor and sarcasm as a defense mechanism is also something I do,” wrote another TikTok user. A third claimed, “Matthew Perry is the first celebrity I’ve ever cried to, ever. I am truly devastated by his loss.”
“It helped me understand why I felt the way I did. I was very sad, and no one understood why. RIP Matthew Perry,” one fan lamented, with another agreeing, “I need this validation. I have been watching FRIENDS for 20 years. All my damage ends up watching Friends.”
Former friends of the late actor – Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Lisa Kudrow – shared the same sad reaction in a joint statement. “We are all very disappointed by the loss of Matthew. We are more than just an acting couple. We are a family,” they wrote.
“There is much to say, but for now, we will take some time to grieve and process this unexpected loss. In time, we will speak more, when we are able,” the statement continued before concluding with, “At this time, our thoughts and love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
