Celebrities aren’t gods; they’re humans. After Liam Payne’s tragic death, can we accept them as flesh and blood?

As a showbiz publicist, I know about the Faustian pact between stars and the public. The benefits are clear, but the costs are truly steep

Fans of former One Direction singer Liam Payne gather in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, October 20, 2024. Picture: Paul White

AS THE worldwide tributes continue, the tragic death of Liam Payne at the age of just 31 has shaken the foundations of how we perceive celebrity and fame. As a publicist and strategist who has worked with many famous people, I know something about this. They are just like us — but they are different.

Fame is as seductive as it is destructive. It offers an irresistible promise: transcendence from the mundane, and the opportunity to be more than just another face in the crowd. But it also demands a sacrifice: once your head is above the parapet of anonymity, it’s very rare to be able to submerge back into the crowd on your own terms. And most insiders know this, or at least they think they do.