Do people really know if a celebrity couple is a good match or a bad pairing? When looking online, it seems so. Any post of or by a rumored or confirmed famous couple has a comment section filled with the public’s opinions on the duo, both negative and positive. But are these comments justified? Are they playful conversations or are they overstepping a boundary?

When people see behavior portrayed in the media by a couple, the couple is often put into a stereotype or trope that viewers are familiar with. An example of this would be Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The second their relationship was identified, they were put into this model of cheerleader girlfriend and quarterback boyfriend. Many people supported and promoted this relationship because the way the celebrities portray themselves fit this desirable stereotype. As a result, many followers make fan pages and comments about wanting Travis to have proposed at the Super Bowl. This type of overbearing and boundary-crossing dialogue can be found in all sorts of places online.

An example of a way a relationship was pushed into a negative situation because of tropes being applied was when Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Basset broke up and Sabrina Carpenter and Joshua Basset briefly dated afterward. Olivia Rodrigo was pushed into a young victim stereotype, while Sabrina Carpenter was labeled a homewrecker. This resulted in Carpenter receiving death threats and numerous months of online hate.

There are also instances where the public pushes a celebrity relationship, disregarding the current partners the celebrities may have. Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney were rumored to be in a relationship by fans, despite Sweeney having a fiance of two years.

Another common factor in public support of a relationship is whether or not the person fits beauty standards well enough. It is common to see the girlfriend of a popular male singer or actor be torn down online because she isn’t worthy of dating him due to her physical appearance. These standards are often racist and sexist, and people buy into them without even realizing the underlying reasoning.

It can be exciting when pictures or videos of two charismatic, attractive celebrities acting flirty or intimate are released. However, it is important to remember that what is seen on social media is only a fraction of what goes on behind the scenes. When people turn to online platforms to express their thoughts about the trajectory of the relationship, compare them to their previous partners, or other overstepping remarks, it can escalate and lead to extremes. These extremes can look like intense hate towards people in or around the relationship as well as placing immense pressure on a couple to behave a certain way that can lead to oversexualization and harassment. This is why people should refrain from commenting on and buying into these harmful cycles. An easy way to avoid this is to refrain from interacting with these kinds of posts. Don’t let yourself fall down the rabbit hole. Instead, close the app and take a break.