But, Amos, is it grief? How can someone weep and wail, rend their garments and tear out their hair (O that I had some to tear out!) for the death of a flickering TV image (which is all these celebrities are to the vast majority of people)?
It's just a form of Rain-Dance, or Fertility-Ritual, or some other Tribal festivity. They're not truly grieving, just saying "Look guys, I'm here and I'm one of you".