Insider spoke to two experts — Sally Theran, an associate professor of psychology at Wellesley College, and Amber Kelleher-Andrews, a relationship matchmaker and CEO of Kelleher International — about why fans have been so invested in Swift's romantic life for close to two decades.
Some fans have a parasocial relationship with Swift
Fans in parasocial relationships with their favorite celebrity may be extremely interested in a star's personal life, root for good things to happen to them, imagine having conversations with them, and may miss them when they don't see them on TV or online, psychologist Shira Gabriel previously told Insider.
"One of the things that's fascinating [...] to me about parasocial relationships is no one really knows Taylor Swift," Theran said. "She is a master at projecting a persona that we want to see and that she wants us to see. But none of us know her as a person."
"We're projecting by putting flowers at her old doorstep," she said. "You're projecting feelings of sadness and grief, when that may not be how she feels about the end of the relationship at all."
According to Kelleher-Andrews, there are reasons fans have developed this relationship with Swift.
They have grown up with Swift and see her everywhere
Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas in 2008.Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images
Swift's debut album was released in 2006, when she was just 17. Many of Swift's fans have been along for the ride ever since.
"We have this affinity, and kind of protection and love, for a young artist that has grown up with us, and in our house," Kelleher-Andrews said.
Following her incredible success, Swift's omnipresence helps her lifelong fans feel connected to her. Her near-constant presence in headlines and on social media gives them an inflated sense of familiarity.
"You kind of feel like you know her," Kelleher-Andrews said. "It's definitely a strong relationship."
"We are always on an Easter egg hunt," Kelleher-Andrews said of Swift's music. "We are wrapped up in, 'Is she talking about Healy? Is she talking about her last relationship?'"
"If we didn't care about her, if we didn't grow up with her, if we didn't know her as well as we did, we might not care to go on the hunt," she added. "But she's already got us, and she's sending us on a hunt. And we're all in."
Because Swift hints at details from her own life, Kelleher-Andrews said some fans think they are entitled to comment on it too.
"We also feel like we personally know her and that we are allowed to comment on her," Kelleher-Andrews said.
"There are some celebrities who try to be quiet, and are like 'I want my privacy.' So if we gossip about them, it's almost like we're talking about them [behind their backs], but Taylor's entire career has been based around her fans.
"Her fans truly feel like it's their job and obligation to comment because it's what built [her] career — they're in it with her."
Fans see themselves in Swift
Taylor Swift with fans in 2019.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Amid this familiarity, seeing Swift go through breakups resonates with her fans.
"It's bringing up feelings about their own life for them because they have seen so much of themselves in her," Theran said.
"Part of the nature of our parasocial interactions or parasocial relationships is how it reflects on us and our lives," she continued. "They may be thinking about their own life, and 'If Taylor can't be happy, can I be happy?'"
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