Grieving Over Someone You Don’t Know Is Normal

1. We don’t know celebrities, but we know celebrities:  We have seen our idols grow and change either in movies or on the court.  We feel like we have been part of those changes.
2. We feel connected to our favorite celebs: Sometimes our favorite celebrities remind us of who we are.
3. They are connected to friends or family who have died: This is when your friends or family has been affected by this loss.  For example, my little cousin may not know who Kobe Bryant was.  But he notices my sadness and tries to comfort me during this time.
4. We connect with the way the celeb died: Certain celebrity deaths may affect people in different ways because they might know a loved one who died in a similar way.
5. That celeb was always there to comfort us: Personally, music helps get me through any situation.  When I experienced my first heartbreak, I didn't want to listen to any music.  But I realized music was the best medicine for me.  It expressed my feelings without saying anything.
6. We see it everywhere: You really can't escape social media, television, or any type of media.  When a celebrity dies, you can expect to see it in the headlines for at least a couple of weeks.
7. It represents losing our past or our youth: Some celebrities that have died could have been part of our childhood.  You just feel like a part of you is gone.
8. Other people make us feel bad: When others fail to recognize that are feelings and reactions are real and genuine, we feel bad.   We need to validate our feelings in order to heal.  Having someone to talk to and sympathize with you is a great way to comfort you.
9. They will never do or create anything new:  This is it...we are always excited seeing our favorite celebrities work on a new project.  While we are grateful for what they have done, we will never experience the joy of knowing what will be next.

Source: What's Your Grief