Opinion by J1 Reporter Hayden Blaney

Almost every major music icon has an obsessive fanbase. From Swifties to the Beatlemaniacs, Directioners to Arianators, these die-hard groups of fans obsess over their artist’s music. While having a large number of fans can catapult the artists to the public eye and increase their fame, there are some fans who cross the line. 

The heavy metal band, Sleep Token, consists of four masked men and has gained a massive following since 2023. Their identities were kept a secret in hopes that fans would simply appreciate their music without delving into their personal lives. However, some fans couldn’t resist the temptation of digging and in 2024, their identities were leaked. 

In response to the insensitive behavior, the band released a song this past month titled “Caramel.” With lyrics such as “they try to shout my real name just to get a rise from me” and “this stage is a prison,” the band describes the anxiety and disappointment they feel over the treatment from fans. The disrespect of the intrusive fans caused such a negative effect on the band member’s lives that they brought the problem to attention through what they know best: music. In an interview, the band stated that they wanted their identities kept secret for the sake of their art. Not only did these fans disrespect their wishes, but one fan went as far as publishing one of the member’s birth certificates online. 

I could give 100 examples of this type of disrespect happening to other artists. Stalking, breaking into their homes, throwing things at them onstage. These things are the problem. Fans often seem to forget that artists have lives outside of their music and end up treating their favorites with disrespect. 

As a die-hard Swiftie myself, I know all the joy that comes with being a massive fan of an artist. The concerts, the traditions, all the little things that go into being a super fan. Being part of a fanbase is something that brings a lot of excitement to peoples’ lives and is in no way wrong. The problem lies in taking it a step further. As fans, we should support the artists through things like listening to their music, buying their merchandise, and going to their concerts. Publishing an artist’s birth certificate online is the opposite of support. 

Every artist cultivates a certain persona that they show to the fans. Fans should not try to involve themselves in an artist’s personal lives, such as their homes and family members. What they choose to leave out of it are things that fans should not concern themselves with. 

We should always support artists we love, but never forget that artists are human, too.