I wonder if the emergence of "virtual celebrities" like VTubers has anything to do with that. Seems like the best of both worlds: You get the loyal fanbase and positive energy of a celebrity, but can also simply "log out" of that identity if it would negatively impact your "real" life.
Depends. If you are a really recognisable persona and you just log out one day, then expect a bunch of psycho-fan creeps looking for you in the real world.
Yeah, they'll probably always be a small number of creeps who try to doxx you, unfortunately. But I think it's still the difference between "a small number" and "everyone who has seen you on screen at some point".
An identity that is obviously constructed (like VTubers) at least signals to the audience that the real person behind the character would like to stay anonymous. I think the majority of fans would respect that wish.
Whereas celebrities who make their real-life identity into a brand - even if that brand is an obvious fiction as well - signal the opposite to their audience.
