02/20/2026
Hey everyone! It's Corrie from T2U hopping on and just putting a name to something real that you might be feeling: parasocial relationship which is a one-sided emotional bond we form with someone we don’t know personally.
Sometimes the death of a public figure hits harder than we expect, and people can feel confused or even ashamed by that grief.
But connection comes more from meaning than proximity.
A celebrity and/or character on a show may have:
- given language to feelings you couldn’t name
- represented a version of yourself you were becoming
- been present during a difficult or defining season of your life and no matter what, were a constant in your life that were there whenever you needed it and made you feel less alone
When a character is 'killed' off on a show, we feel it; we mourn; we grieve; we cry. This can also happen when the actors themselves are gone- like the line between story and reality blurs. It can also stir real grief, old memories, or unresolved emotions that you may be feeling from "REAL" life.
One that hit hard for me specifically was Matthew Perry. I could spend all morning sharing why and how that stung, and still stings, for me. Now, Eric Dane - best known as McSteamy from Grey's anatomy. UGH! My husband will tell you that there is not a week that goes by that FRIENDS or GREYS is not on in my house. I have watched these series over and over and over again - even won GREYS trivia and got 2nd in FRIENDS trivia after several tie breaker questions. I know these series and these characters more than I know myself.
I know there are people out there that are feeling this loss. Even if you didn't 'know' these people, what they brought to screen in character form is what you didn't know you needed and when they die, it feels like what they have always done for you is now 'gone.' It is such a hard feeling to explain but it is very real.
Grief isn’t measured by access — it’s measured by impact.
If you’re feeling this today, you’re not being dramatic. You’re being human and I see you 🙂 Could we BE more sad? IYKYK
Be gentle with yourself. Let the feeling exist without judgment and go watch your comfort show.
Simply human today,
Corrie Farrar
T2U Practice Director
RIP Eric Dane
RIP Matthew Perry
'llBeThereForYou
