Why celebrity breakups fascinate public

The end of any celebrity relationship triggers a wave of attention. It spans from the breakup of Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, to Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas.

Celebrity splits take the front of the news and grab the attention of the general populace and the internet. What is it about the breakup of a relationship involving a celebrity that fascinates the public to such a great level?

The mirage of the couple

The public displays of relationships involving a celebrity are grand. Smiles on the red carpet, luxurious vacations and relationship posts on social media. The breakdown of such a relationship, brings a level of disappointment to the audience. It creates a form of disillusionment about the nature of relationships.

Psychology Today notes that such audience often tends to form a personal relationship to the celebrity and suffers a emotional loss akin to a loss in personal relationships, thus feeling sadness akin to a loss in personal relationships.

The control of narrative

For a celebrity relationship, the breakup is in the public eye and it invites and generates its own level of attention. Fans and publicists of celebrities hone in on specific actions of the celebrity.

The publicists creates a narrative and the public fans it and expand on it. As the public keeps building the narrative, it feeds the celebrity to the point that it creates unescapable roles. As noted in The Guardian, “Celebrities are no longer just entertainers — they’re ongoing storylines.”

Relatability in glamour

Surprisingly, celebrity breakups make stars seem more human. Despite their fame and fortune, they experience betrayal, heartbreak, and longing just like anyone else. Fans often project their own emotions onto these stories, finding that even idols can have their hearts broken and finding comfort or validation in that fact.

The social media effect

With the use of the social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, every breakup is even more sensationalised. Within minutes, people analyze the lyrics of songs, observe the body language of the people involved and even examine the photos taken by the paparazzi.

As stated by Variety, this "digital autopsy" causes a frenzy of engagement, driving people to like, comment, and share. Breakups, in this sense, are an interactive form of entertainment.

The endless curiosity

In a world fuelled by stories, celebrity breakups are the perfect source of drama, emotion and relatability, all while being cloaked in notoriety.

This fascination is more a reflection of "us" rather than "them." This is because behind every breakup, there is heartbreak, but more importantly, a mirror revealing our deep obsession with public love and loss.