Touring around the country and selling out live shows, Ballinger has reveled in success and internet fame up until the recent accusations.
As someone who has been on Twitter since age 12, I’ve grown up believing that the close dynamic between the big accounts and creators is nothing out of the ordinary. I never second guessed a direct message from someone who I looked up to, or the balance of power of group chats I participated in. When I went online, my only worry was in making sure that a grown man wasn’t posing behind any of the accounts who I befriended.
When I heard about the accusations towards Ballinger, I was conflicted. A lot of the people around me were finding issues in the relationship dynamic that Ballinger held with fans, labeling her behavior creepy for simply being in contact with them. In the past few weeks, I’ve heard multiple friends express that they don’t think anybody should be able to talk to their fans so closely, it’s completely weird and otherworldly, creating an odd power dynamic between the people involved.
There are a lot of inherent problems that arise when looking at the ability to interact with one’s idol directly, and it’s a special circumstance, unique from any generation preceding our present time. For the kids involved, it provides a sense of hope and community. I found it very important to find safety here—but even without there being active abuse stemming from the person in power, I find things popping up for me that originate from these intimate stan-idol relationships.