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Feb. 21, 2023

228: Grieving for a Social Media Influencer: Exploring Parasocial Relationships on Reddit with Emily Rose

228: Grieving for a Social Media Influencer: Exploring Parasocial Relationships on Reddit with Emily Rose
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The rise of social media influencers means it is easier than ever to form parasocial relationships with celebrities or online influencers. Although parasocial relationships are one-sided and don’t involve any contact in the real world, the death of someone whose life you have been closely following online can cause a visceral reaction.

In the case of Dave Hollis, his sudden death at the age of 47 sent a subreddit community of over 13,000 people into an emotional freefall. In this conversation with Emily Rose, digital creator and host of the It’s Become A Whole Thing podcast, you’ll hear about the dynamics of parasocial relationships, how celebrities leverage these types of relationships, and the coping mechanisms that people employ when the other side of a one-way relationship experiences a life event.


Key Points From This Episode:


  • The tragic event that shook a 13,000-person-strong Reddit community and how they expressed their grief. 
  • The story of how Dave Hollis and his ex-wife Rachel Hollis turned their once rabid fans into disenfranchised ex-fans.
  • The abrupt emotional shift that often accompanies a person’s death. 
  • The definition of a parasocial relationship. 
  • The spectrum of celebrity-focused communities that can be found online.
  • Emily’s thoughts on the worst thing that can happen to a celebrity. 
  • Examples of how celebrities leverage parasocial relationships to their advantage.
  • Reddit communities can be a double-edged sword - they can offer amazing support and resources, but also attract trolls who can make the experience unbearable.  
  • Aspects of the Hollis brand that make them so relatable.


Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


Emily Rose on Instagram

It’s Become A Whole Thing Podcast

How Rachel and Dave Hollis Destroyed Their Million-Dollar Brand (YouTube)

How Rachel and Dave Hollis Destroyed Their Million-Dollar Brand (Podcast) 




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