Idol Chatter: November 2008 Archives

When celebrities become the object of affection for millions of fans there are often a few fanatics who take the adoration too far. Such was the case of former American Idol contestant Paula Goodspeed who committed suicide several days ago in front of Paula Abdul's house after obsessing over and stalking the Idol judge for years. This is not an isolated incident; many celebrities are the victims of the DSM IV-designation known as "erotomania."

Just this Wednesday, Jennifer Garner obtained a court order against Steven Burky, a self-described "crazed 'Alias' fan," who has been harassing the actress since 2002. With that in mind, Beliefnet takes a look at eight celebrities who have experienced the dark side of fame when fans have trouble separating fact from fiction.

John Lennon
On December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon outside The Dakota and introduced many Americans to the dangers of adoration.

Jodi Foster
Perhaps the most dramatic of all displays of "erotomania" was from John Hinckley, Jr.'s attempt to assassinate President Reagan in 1981 in order to impress Jodie Foster. Obsessed with the movie "Taxi Driver," Hinckley formed a strong attachment to Foster's character Iris and Travis Bickell's gun collection. After a phone conversation in which Foster told Hinckley that she could not have conversations with strangers since it was "dangerous," Hinckley decided the perfect way to win her heart was to kill a U.S. President.

Theresa Saldana
Best known for her roles in "Raging Bull" and the TV show "The Commish," Saldana was attacked near her home, in broad daylight, by Arthur Richard Jackson. Jackson stabbed Saldana ten times. He may have done more damage if a nearby water delivery man hadn't intervened and subdued him. Some good has come out of the horrific experience: Saldana not only established the Victims for Victims organization, but the attack also played a role in establishing anti-stalking laws.

Rebecca Shaeffer
A young up-and-coming actress, Shaeffer was well-known for her work on the late 80s Pam Dawber sitcom, "My Sister Sam." She is better known as the 21-year-old starlet whose murder prompted the passage of California's anti-stalking laws. When her apartment's intercom was broken, Schaeffer answered her door to be greeted by obsessed fan Robert John Barker, who had obtained her home address by hiring a private detective to search DMV records. Reportedly, she politely but firmly turned Barker away and asked that he never return. He returned a second time, producing a handgun and shooting her point blank. The California Drivers Privacy Protection Act was also partially enacted with this murder in mind.

If you have a teen/tween in your family, you may have heard of a little franchise called "High School Musical." The latest movie, "High School Musical: Senior Year"--where friends must endure separating to graduate and go off to college-- is still enjoying box office success after a few weeks in theaters.

Our good friends at Grace Hill Media and Disney have given us 10 cool "High School Musical 3" prize packs to give away.

Want one?

Post a comment below by November 24, 2008, answering the question: Have you ever been separated from a close friend? How do you keep your friendship alive?

Make sure you include your email address in the designated area (it won't be made public). The 10 best responses--based on the judgment of the Idol Chatter editors--will win a "High School Musical 3" poster, T-shirt (sizes are limited), and some temporary tattoos.

Please read the legal stuff before entering.

And, be sure to check out our gallery: Biblical Lessons from "High School Musical."