As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, forcing people into isolation and upending daily life, a curious new phenomenon emerged among young people: the “emotional support dead guy.”
This coping mechanism, which gained traction on social media platforms like TikTok and X, involves youths developing deep, parasocial relationships with deceased celebrities and public figures—from musicians like Elliott Smith and Kurt Cobain to actors like Heath Ledger.
Longing For Connection In Isolation
Experts suggest that the surge in individuals seeking emotional support was a direct response to the pandemic’s devastating impact on social interactions and interpersonal connections. Forced into prolonged isolation, many young people found themselves “bed rotting” and seeking out any semblance of companionship they could unearth.
“Apps like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram provide a place for anyone with a phone and a dream to talk to any celebrity or influencer of their choosing,” explains our reporter. “Since we lived to talk to our friends online, those authentic friendships began to blend with the completely arbitrary emotions we felt toward celebrities.”
Grief And The Attention Economy
Tragically, the pandemic also ushered in a new era of grief consumption, as news outlets and content creators exploited high-profile deaths for views and engagement. This, coupled with the short attention spans fostered by social media, led many young people to gravitate toward a single “emotional support dead guy” as a way to channel their grief.
“Genuine tragedies quickly become the subject of multilayered irony postings, and the era of ‘taking serious things seriously’ seems to be long behind us,” our reporter notes. “To cope, many youth chose just one person—often someone who died young and tragically—to pour their grief into.”
Finding Meaning In The Macabre
While the origins of the “emotional support dead guy” trend may seem morbid, our reporter suggests that these parasocial relationships can sometimes serve a meaningful purpose. For example, one of their best friends has developed a “spiritual connection” with the late chef Anthony Bourdain, which has led them to explore Bourdain’s work and culinary passions in a deeper way.
“Without my friend’s passion, I would’ve never honestly sat down, thoroughly enjoyed Parts Unknown, and finally started cooking for myself without hating every second of it,” the reporter explains. We can debate the mildly messed-up origins of internet trends endlessly, but the reality remains that everyone requires emotional support.
A Lasting Impact On Gen Z
The “emotional support dead guy” phenomenon, a defining characteristic of the Gen Z experience, is likely to persist as the COVID-19 pandemic fades into the past. The reporter suggests that these parasocial relationships, born out of isolation and grief, have become a coping mechanism that sticks with young people even as the world returns to “normal.”
“Emotional support remains with you even after the trend has faded away,” they write. “The mildly fucked-up origins of internet trends can be hashed out forever, but the truth is everyone needs emotional support, dead guy.”
Ultimately, the rise of “Emotional Support Dead Guys” serves as a poignant reminder of the profound psychological toll the pandemic has taken on young people and the creative ways they have found to navigate the challenges of a turbulent and isolating time.
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