Jana Kramer Addresses Influencer Losses and the Impact of Online Negativity
Jana Kramer is expressing her willingness to participate in discussions surrounding the recent and concerning losses within the influencer community.
During the Monday, January 5, episode of iHeartRadio’s “Whine Down” podcast, Kramer, 42, shared an article from Us Weekly where psychotherapist and Therapy Nation author Jonathan Alpert explored the apparent increase in social media personalities passing away.
“When the category [influencer] is so expansive, tragic events become grouped together, creating the impression of a pattern,” Kramer stated while reading Alpert’s perspective on the matter. “Because influencers share so much of their lives online, their struggles and deaths are highlighted in a way that doesn't typically occur with individuals who maintain a private existence.”
In response to Alpert’s observations, Kramer conveyed her understanding and empathy for influencers who live their lives so publicly.
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“I recall how reading comments previously significantly impacted my mental state, leading to feelings of depression,” Kramer said. “Therefore, I can only imagine that for someone already experiencing depression, this constant barrage and accumulation of negativity would make things even more challenging.”
Recently, the One Tree Hill alumna — who shares Jolie, 9, and Jace, 7, with ex-husband Mike Caussin and Roman, 2, with husband Allan Russell — encountered a particularly unkind comment directed at her eldest child.
She described feeling a strong reaction when she nearly responded to the comment.
“I found myself engaging the other day, and I’m frustrated with myself for even doing so, but they targeted Jolie,” she said. “They made a remark about Jolie’s appearance, and I thought, ‘As a mother, how could you write something so rude and hurtful?’”
Cohosts Kathryn Vieira Woodard and Kristen Brust agreed that comments on social media can negatively affect one’s mental well-being.
“I consider myself resilient, loved, and too mature to be bothered, ” Brust said when reflecting on remarks from social media users. “And yet, a single comment can prompt me to want to reply, which I don’t, but it does have an effect on me.”
Woodard questioned whether some influencers are oversharing about their mental health, potentially influencing their followers.
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“Everyone is discussing mental health, which is positive, but I believe we might be taking it a bit too far,” she said. “Now, what’s happening is that young girls are observing this, thinking, ‘Well, so-and-so is struggling with mental health, and so is so-and-so, and so on. Is this a common occurrence? Not is this desirable, but rather, ‘Is this something I should also be experiencing?’ It’s filling their minds and their social media feeds. Yes, it’s important to talk about mental health, obviously, but at what cost?”
While social media users may debate whether there has been a genuine increase in deaths among content creators, Alpert explained that the impact of influencers dying can certainly affect their followers.
“Followers feel a connection to influencers because they see them daily and feel invited into their personal lives,” Alpert told Us in December 2025. “Even if it’s a one-sided relationship, the sense of closeness is genuine. When an influencer dies, it feels like losing someone familiar.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
