Recently, the German band Rammstein, and frontman Till Lindeman in particular, has been in disarray. So, what do you do as a fan? Do you tear up your ticket or wait to see what happens and just go to the concert of the band you love? Dr. Simone Driessen, media scientist at ESHCC, gives insight in an interview with 'Nieuwsweekend' on NPO Radio 1.
When an idol is involved in a scandal, it is a big ethical issue for a fan. In her research on fan behaviour, Simone interacts with fans about what they think is important, what arguments they put forward and how they react online. In this, Simone discovered three behavioural patterns: the fans who defend their idols waiting for an official ruling, the neutral fans who stand aside and the fans who shut the door and say this behaviour is unacceptable.
Tricky decision
The neutral group is probably the biggest and the decision for the group that shuts the door is probably the hardest. "Quitting is difficult after a certain time. This is because a fan often has a parasocial relationship with their idol. That is an emotional bond, a love with something intangible, which is then broken," Simone explains.
She also discusses the difference between living and deceased artists who have been discredited and whether the image someone has matters. "The cancelled ones are also often the 'bad boys'. It was to be expected more from Till Lindeman, for example, than Marco Borsato. But they are both judged by the judicial system anyway."
What kind of example do you want to be?
Simone thinks fans should make up their own minds on how to ultimately react and act in these kinds of situations. "Put on scientific glasses and think carefully; what kind of example do you want to be? But it can be very logical to decide that the (criminal) investigation is still ongoing and you still want to listen to the music of a contested artist. The judiciary may then judge."
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Watch the full interview here. (in Dutch)