Dorothy (left), 20, and Sam (right), 23.Marissa Alper

This culture is of course not new. Countless musicians, actresses and public figures faced the pressures of public fame throughout the 20th century as technology increased and access to celebrities’ private lives increased. “If it was like 1990, they would have pushed (Roan) on stage in a sparkly skirt anyway,” adds Kara, who, like Roan, also suffers from Bipolar II Disorder. “I don’t think we need another Britney Spears – not good, but forced to act like a little puppet.”

Mother and daughter Sarra, 23, and Farhana, 55, traveled to ATG from Toronto; Sarra has seen Roan in concert three times, the first time in a room of about 30 people, and notes the speed at which everything changed for the artist. Sarra is not present on social media, which Farhana is grateful for as a mother. But both are thrilled with how Roan stands up for himself.

“I will speak like an older woman because women in the past have never given us these boundaries,” says Farhana. “We went through everything it took.” Still, she notes that things are scarier now for celebrities, too. “There are a lot more ways to either approach, touch or bring attention to that celebrity. They know your hotel, they know your phone, they know everything.”

Sarra (left), 23, Toronto, Canada, and her mother Farhana (right), 55.Marissa Alper

Marissa Alper

The toxicity is present both online and offline.

“I’ve seen people be completely obnoxious about wanting access to the artist,” a music industry professional, who asked not to be named, tells me at the All Things Go site. “You love something so much that you might feel a certain level of it, not entitlement, but something like that.” I’ve definitely experienced some people being a little too sensitive or pushing you to the next event, the next after-party. It’s a phenomenon they say is fueled by how much we want to know about the political beliefs, relationships and everyday experiences of our favorite artists. “We’re (now) talking about every aspect of these artists’ lives. This is intense.”