Parasocial Relationships of RHOBH

While watching one of my favorite reality televisions shows Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, one of the main characters Kyle Richards, admits that she had a huge crush on Steven Tyler growing up. She even admitted that she sometimes fantasized about what it would be like to be in a relationship with him, till she felt as though she was stalking his every move. Towards the end of the episode she finally shares a kiss with Steven Tyler on stage during a charity event. When reading Adolescent Females’ Idolization of Male Media Stars as a Transition Into Sexuality by Rachel Karinol, I found it interesting that she links parasocial relationships to a form of sexual exploration during adolescents. Karinol states that the idol functions as the practice object on which to test new exciting feelings; the idol thus fulfills an important function because he represents a love-object that entails no risk and no responsibilities (Karinol, 2001). Applying Karinol’s analysis to Kyle Richards’ parasocial relationship with Steven Tyler I found it interesting that she could obsess about someone her whole life, while keeping a safe distance away from him, so as not to engage in any harmful sexual behaviors as a teen and young adult. She did not have to worry about getting pregnant, contraceptives or getting her heart broken, because his sole purpose was to serve as the sexual object to be idolized.

However, I also argue that as one grows older, and as social circles becomes tightly woven, the unobtainable can all of a sudden be within reach. This leaves the door open for problematic effects. When Kyle shared the kiss on stage with Steven Tyler she exclaimed “Mauricio is going to flip out.” Mauricio is Kyle’s husband and father of her four children for over twenty years. In a monogamous culture, Kyle played a part in being sexually unfaithful to her husband in exchange for a physical bond with her parasocial partner. If she did choose to take this relationship further, she could also be opening herself up to other negative health risks such as STI’s.

Furthermore, another captivating segment of Karinol’s argument states that teenage girls tend to idolize feminine-looking men (Karinol, 2001). I found this especially interesting because anyone that is familiar with Steven Tyler knows that he definitely possesses some ”feminine” characteristics. In line with this he has long hair, wear tight clothes and partakes in his fair share of Botox. I’m not sure whether or not Kyle likes him for his soft and warm demeanor, or because he is easily identifiable with physically.

No matter what age, parasocial relationships can hold strong for decades if the initial connection is strong enough. And if adolescents and adults alike are not careful, they can  become real life interactions, which poses other health risks.

Karniol, R. (2001) Adolescent Females’ Idolization of Male Media Stars as a Transition into Sexuality. Plenum Publishing Corporation. Vol. 44