Did you know that fans killed some of the most beloved celebs in the world?
Many people love watching celebrities for their talent, charisma, fashion sense, sweet personalities, ideas, and so many other things. While their lives can indeed be inspirational, sometimes appreciating someone too much can turn into an unhealthy obsession. And I’m not talking about listening to their songs on repeat or watching their movies every time you’re sad.
Some fans were so obsessed with their favorite stars that they even followed them home. They were so passionate about what the Hollywood folks said that the moment they found something they didn’t like or agree with, it was devastating. Speaking of disasters, today’s article will talk about fans’ obsessions with particular famous people. An obsession so big that they ended up taking the lives of their favorite stars. Without further ado, here are the celebrities who were killed by the people they love most: their fans!
1. John Lennon
The entire world was shocked when the beloved Beatles singer was shot dead by an obsessed and very angry fan. On December 8th, 1980, the 40-year-old rock icon and legend was shot five times in the back outside his Manhattan apartment building by former Beatles fan Mark David Chapman.
Sources claim that Chapman has offered a variety of contradictory explanations for why he killed Lennon, including his spiritual beliefs and the desire for celebrity. In 2010, Chapman stated he had a hit list that included Elizabeth Taylor, Paul McCartney, and late-night legend Johnny Carson, but chose Lennon “out of convenience.”
He also expressed hatred of Lennon’s hit “Imagine,” which he believed made the iconic musician a communist and a hypocrite. Okay, you don’t like a man, but do you need to kill him? Chapman was angry that one time Lenon told his fans to imagine they had no possessions, while he had millions of dollars in his bank account and several estates (as the shooter said). A year after the tragic event, the killer was sentenced to 20 years in prison and was denied parole for the 11th time in 2020.
2. Christina Grimmie
If you love watching “The Voice,” you probably know about Christina Grimmie, one of the most talented contestants in season six. She finished in third place, and fans were sure she would take the music industry by storm thanks to her amazing voice.
Unfortunately, she was killed on June 10th, 2016, during a meet-and-greet following a concert in Orlando. The killer was an obsessed fan named Kevin Loibl. A witness said that the singer didn’t have any idea of what was about to happen. When Loibl approached her, she was waiting with open arms to greet him with a hug.
Grimmie’s brother quickly jumped across the merchandise booth to tackle the shooter, but he was quick to escape. However, Loibl promptly shot himself in self-defense. People who were friends with him said he was constantly monitoring the singer’s social media platforms and tried everything he could to change his appearance to seem more attractive.
Six months after Loibl’s death, her family filed a wrongful death claim against the venue, citing inadequate security that failed to discover Loibl’s two firearms. However, three years later, the lawsuit was abandoned without a reason.
3. Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was one of the most important figures in the fashion industry. He was shot twice in the back of the head in the early hours of July 15th, 1997, while returning from a coffee run to his Miami house. The one who took his life was a 27-year-old fan named Andrew Cunanan, who claimed that he met Versace in the 90s and became friends.
The authorities were unable to understand why the killer targeted Versace, but they thought he was after gay men. Cunanan believed that he had HIV, which caused him to hate the LGBT community. Versace wasn’t the only man he killed. In only three months, Cunanan took the lives of five people, including real estate developer Lee Miglin.
Shortly after her murder of Gianni Versace, Andrew Cunanan was found shot dead in a boathouse in North Miami Beach, Florida, in July 1997.
4. Rebecca Schaeffer
Despite having a short two-year run, the sitcom “My Sister Sam” made actor Rebecca Schaeffer a breakout star who was expected to take Hollywood by storm. Everything changed on July 18th, 1989, when the 21-year-old was murdered and died in the entryway of her Hollywood residence by a three-year stalker, Robert John Bardo. Bardo sent her letters regularly, but his obsession took over when he hired a private detective to use the California Department of Motor Vehicles to locate her residential location.
According to sources, Schaeffer was attending an audition for “The Godfather III” and expecting the screenplay to be brought to her home. However, when she opened the door, she saw Bardo there. He didn’t let go of his obsession, and he returned a second time, but with a gun. What’s even crazier is that Bardo disclosed that Schaeffer’s final words were “Why?…Why?”. The good news is that the killer received a life sentence the following year.
These stars will forever be missed! What are your thoughts on this article? Did you like any of these stars? Let us know in the comments below! If you want to read something else from Devastating Disasters, here’s another post for you: These 6 Well-Known Brands Thrived Using Holocaust Prisoners
