The (in?)sanity of the fans.

As stated by Steve Ryfle, a healthy love for an idol can turn into a worrying and ghoulish obsession. These people sometimes cross the line, going from simple fans to obsessed stalkers, bordering on the line of criminals. A study was conducted in 2003 on obsessive fans, concluding that many, in fact, did suffer from a syndrome known as "Celebrity Worship Syndrome." The syndrome ranges from checking up on the given star's updates regularly for social purposes (the most common and docile group), to believing that one shares a special and irrefutable connection with the given star (a more concerning group), and, lastly, to fans that border on being outright pathological (the most worrying of the entire category).

Some examples of the latter variety would be cited in a blog post written by an anonymous blogger on the website tumblr a few months ago. They included (but are not limited to): paying taxi drivers to follow their chosen idol(s) twenty-four seven; sending nude pictures to idols; breaking into the homes of the idols (and even, in one infamous case, peeing on the towel of the idol and replacing it on the rack); sending grotesque gifts (e.g. period blood); and so on. They go so far as to harm, hinder and complicate the lives of the ones they so ardently claim to "love."

In another infamous case, Park Yoochun, a member of the popular Korean band 'JYJ,' was physically assaulted by a fan. The fan justified her actions by stating, "If I hit him, he will surely remember me."

There are several other propositions as to what may cause certain fans to act as they do towards their beloved idols, including the Attachment Theory (in which fans simply develop, for whatever reason, an over-attachement to the given celebrity) and the Hero Syndrome (in which a fan deliberately creates a situation in which he/she may act as the "hero" and "save" their idol[s]).

Of course, it is not impossible to love a celebrity in a "healthy" manner. There are millions of people who adore their idols but still manage to restrain themselves. Knowing boundaries and having limits is an important part of life, which is exactly what some fans need to learn to put into practice. It is said over and over again, but I do not think it can be said enough: celebrities are humans too. They too need breaks, want to occasionally be left alone and are entitled to free will. They are not the "property" of the fans - a misconception, I fear, that may be a little bit too common.