It is rare to invent a term so iconic that it becomes a pop culture staple and is added to the prestigious Oxford Dictionary. The term “stan” (a combination of the words stalker and fan) originates from Eminem’s 2000s hit of the same name, which tells a fictional story about a highly obsessed fan who drives his car off a bridge with his pregnant girlfriend in the boot because Eminem did not respond to his letters. Initially, the term was used to describe people with unhealthy parasocial relationships with public figures. However, as the internet grew in popularity, it began to be used more casually and eventually as a substitute for the word “superfan”. However, it is important to note that the casual use of the term did not erase its original meaning; it simply normalised the behaviour associated with it.
Being a stan goes beyond admiring your favourite public figure as it requires the collective idolisation of said figure. Platforms such as Twitter (now X), Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit have allowed stans to build digital shrines for their idols and interact with their idol’s social media posts and lives in a somewhat intimate, albeit one-sided, manner. This is known as a “parasocial relationship”. Furthermore, in these digital spaces, stans are known to dedicate their time to praising their favourite celebrities and are notorious for attacking people who have negative or even constructive criticism about their idols. For example, when YouTuber Kimberly Nicole Foster criticised Nicki Minaj’s new song “Super Freaky Girl” in 2022, she and her family were doxxed and threatened with physical and sexual assault by Minaj’s fanbase, “The Barbz”, quoting Minaj’s famous “go against Nicki, it’s gon’ cost ya” lyric as justification for their actions. Another example is the cyberbullying of individuals who condemn Minaj for publicly supporting and defending her brother and husband, who are both convicted sex offenders.
These instances highlight a key aspect of stan culture: it cannot exist without the stan experiencing cognitive dissonance. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cognitive dissonance is the “psychological discomfort you experience when you hold on to two or more conflicting beliefs or values or when your actions contradict those beliefs”. People often use rationalisations and justifications to resolve this dissonance. Stans frequently find themselves defending their idols even when their idols actions clash with their personal morals or standards. Most of The Barbz may not believe in or support cyberbullying or sexual assault, but their devotion to their idol allows them to downplay and rationalise any wrongdoing. This helps them maintain unwavering loyalty while avoiding the uncomfortable realisation that their devotion or actions conflict with their personal or moral values.
Stan culture is not only dangerous to the people who criticise a stan’s idol. It can also pose a danger to the people who are idolised. With stan culture comes a sense of entitlement to the idol’s life and time. In an interview, Lady Gaga said that one of the Little Monsters (the name of her fanbase) hid in her hotel room closet to “surprise” her and ask for an autograph. In a more tragic instance in 2016, a fan who was infatuated with singer Christina Grimmie underwent a hair transplant, LASIK eye surgery, and lost weight to seem more attractive to the young star, whom he subsequently murdered at a meet and greet she held after her concert.
Stan culture, a phenomenon that was largely observed in the music industry, has started to bleed into other fandoms. Recently, Olympic medallist and figure skater Alysa Liu expressed how uncomfortable and unsafe she felt when a mob of fans awaited her arrival at the airport for photos and autographs, which then escalated when some fans started chasing her to her car.
Social media has exacerbated stan culture and parasocial relationships which breed unhealthy and toxic behaviours that not only affect stans and critics, but the very same people being idolised. Your favourite celebrity is not a “Mr I’m Too Good To Call or Write My Fans”. They simply just do not know you.
Gabriella le Roux
