How parasocial relationships triggered the Taylor Swift engagement freak outs

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement last week, and the betrothal caused a swirl of fan reactions. Most fans were supportive but a small minority were problematic. A section of “Swifties” full heartedly believed (and still believe) that Taylor and Travis’s relationship was a manufactured PR romance. Hayley Williams also recently released an album, with a closing track entitled “Parachute”, in which fans believe she describes the end of her most recent relationship with fellow Paramore bandmate, Taylor York. And while most fans reacted to the music at face value, some fans seemed as though they were watching their parents get divorced. These are just two recent examples of fans having incredibly personal reactions to things that should be immaterial to their actual lives. So, what are parasocial relationships? And where should we draw the line between normal and unhealthy behavior?