Cameron Boyce wasn’t just an actor—he was a presence. He was that hilarious, warm, effortlessly charming kid on Jessie, the goofy son in Grown Ups, and the charismatic Carlos in Descendants. He made us laugh, brought stories to life, and for so many fans, he felt like a friend. That’s the magic of media—we don’t just watch actors, we connect with them.
When someone like Cameron dies, it feels like losing a part of your past—your childhood, your comfort, a piece of what made you happy. So when he passed away in 2019 at just 20 years old due to a seizure, it didn’t feel like losing a distant celebrity. It felt personal. And that’s because, in a way, it was.
Jasmine asks: "It’s been six years since Cameron Boyce died, but I still feel sad thinking about it. Is that weird?"
Short answer? Not at all. In fact, what you’re experiencing is something called parasocial grief, and it’s way more common than people think.
The Foundations of Parasocial Grief
At the heart of parasocial grief is the parasocial relationship—a one-sided emotional bond people form with celebrities, public figures, or even fictional characters (Akhther & Teeteh, 2023; Baker & Cohen, 2024). While these relationships may seem distant, they can feel deeply personal. Research shows that people integrate media figures into their emotional world, much like real-life friends or mentors (Cohen & Hoffner, 2016; Wong & Patlamazoglou, 2022). Arises from this one-sided relationship is parasocial grief, the intense sadness and sense of loss felt after the death of a public figure or someone you've never met (Akhther & Teeteh, 2023; DeGroot & Leith, 2018; Wong & Patlamazoglou, 2022). When a celebrity dies, retires, or a fictional character is written off, it can feel like losing someone personally significant (DeGroot & Leith, 2018). Despite how real this grief feels, many people hesitate to talk about it, fearing judgment (Gach et al., 2017). This is called disenfranchised grief—mourning that society does not fully recognize or validate as legitimate (DeGroot & Leith, 2018; Mouton, 2023). Maybe you’ve heard (or even told yourself), "You didn’t even know him. Why are you still sad? " But the truth is, grief doesn’t follow logic—it follows love and connection. To combat this stigma and encourage open conversations about parasocial grief, society needs to increase its grief literacy—the ability to recognize and understand grief, making death and mourning more visible, normalized, and open for conversation, helping people feel supported in their emotional experiences (Breen et al., 2022; Klastrup, 2015).
The Role of Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword
Digital platforms have transformed grief into a shared experience. Fans can come together to post tributes, create memorial hashtags, and engage in collective mourning (Akhther & Teeteh, 2023; Proust, 2024). Social media ensures that fans can keep celebrities' legacies alive by posting old clips, sharing tributes and celebrating their impact. However, social media also presents challenges. Constant exposure to grief-related content can make it harder to move forward, and grief policing—when others dismiss or criticize a person’s mourning—often happens online (Baker & Cohen, 2024; Moyer & Enck, 2020). Comments like “Move on already” or “It’s been years” reinforce the idea that parasocial grief is not “real.” But the truth is, grief has no timeline. Although it often mirrors Kübler-Ross’s traditional stages of bereavement moving through shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, these stages are not linear, and experiences are highly individualized (Akhther & Teeteh, 2023; Daniel & Westerman, 2017; Wong & Patlamazoglou, 2022).
The media’s portrayal of celebrity deaths can also have serious consequences. Research has shown that sensationalized reporting on celebrity suicides can increase suicide rates, a phenomenon known as the Werther Effect (Niederkrotenthaler et al., 2012). However, responsible coverage can instead encourage help-seeking behaviours, showing the media’s power in shaping public health outcomes (Lee, 2019). Social media is also changing mourning rituals as fans now create digital tributes and interactive memorials (Akhther & Teeteh, 2023; Hoffner, 2020; Proust, 2024; Sanderson & Cheong, 2010). These new ways of grieving challenge traditional ideas of closure and remembrance.
The Future of Parasocial Grief
Parasocial relationships are evolving with technology. AI-generated “deepfake” content allows fans to interact with digital versions of deceased celebrities, raising ethical concerns about authenticity and emotional closure (Egger, 2022; Khumairoh, 2023; Li & Pang, 2024). Instead of saying a final goodbye, people can continue engaging with an AI-generated version of their favourite star.
Additionally, influencer culture has expanded the scope of parasocial grief. When influencers face scandals, disappear from platforms, or die unexpectedly, fans experience a similar grieving process (Mardon et al., 2023). Some companies are even experimenting with AI-driven holograms that allow fans to “interact” with deceased celebrities, further complicating the grieving process (Egger, 2022). Streaming services and social media platforms also contribute to algorithm-driven nostalgia—curating content related to deceased celebrities, making it feel as though they are still present in daily media consumption (Khumairoh, 2023; Li & Pang, 2024). Instead of fading from public consciousness, digital footprints ensure that public figures remain a continuous part of our lives, blurring the line between past and present grief.
Social Work’s Role in Digital Mourning
For social workers and mental health professionals, acknowledging parasocial grief as a legitimate form of loss is essential. Instead of dismissing it, professionals can ask individuals what the loss represents for them, whether it symbolizes a connection to childhood, personal struggles, or identity (Bingaman, 2022). Helping individuals establish healthy mourning rituals, such as journaling, engaging in community discussions, or revisiting a celebrity’s work, can support the grieving process (DeGroot & Leith, 2018; King & Carter, 2022). Additionally, social workers can guide people in managing their social media exposure to prevent prolonged distress (King & Carter, 2022).
Promoting continuing bonds—the idea that maintaining a connection with the deceased can help people process loss—is beneficial (Moyer & Enck, 2020; Wong & Patlamazoglou, 2022). For parasocial grief, this might include rewatching Jessie and laughing at Cameron’s jokes, participating in tribute projects, or engaging in causes he supported. Unlike traditional grief, where memorialization is often heavily influenced by families, parasocial grief allows fans to curate their own mourning experience, offering a sense of agency in how they remember and honour a public figure (Döveling, 2015; Wong & Patlamazoglou, 2022).
Conclusion
Grief doesn’t have an expiration date, especially when someone like Cameron Boyce brought joy and comfort into our lives. Parasocial grief is a valid response to loss, and as our world becomes more digital, these connections deepen. Social media allows for communal mourning but also introduces challenges like grief policing and the constant presence of deceased figures online. Recognizing parasocial grief ensures that those who experience it feel supported. As long as our favourite stars live on through their work and digital presence, we’ll still be in our feels—because grief, including the parasocial kind, shows they mattered to us.
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