Stories to fuel your mind

The Juiciest, Most Gossipy Long Reads About—What Else?—Gossip

Exploring the origins of Page Six’s decades-long run, the forgotten gossip girl of the 1970s, and how the Hollywood strikes are fueling a new generation of hearsay.

Amy Maoz

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

Disappointed by the lack of quality, low-stakes gossip in your life? You’re not alone. People are spending less time with friends—and hardly talking to strangers! How on earth are we supposed to get our (healthy!) dose of hot gossip?

The best solution? Call a friend or chat up the person waiting behind you in line so you can both practice this essential social skill. And in the meantime? Enjoy these positively delicious deep dives into some of the most gossipy corners of the web.

Image by CSA Images / Getty Images

Strike Gossip: Inside Hollywood’s Obsessive (and Often Wrong) Rumor Mill

“I cannot put my thoughts in a text box without assuming that somebody’s screenshotting it.”

The Secret History of Page Six [2020]

For more than four decades, Page Six has ruled the world of gossip. In an era when celebrities control the narrative, can it survive?

How Rona Barrett Became The Gossip Industry's Forgotten Trailblazer [2016]

Fifty years ago, Rona Barrett forged a Hollywood gossip empire. Then she left it all behind, her innovations attributed to others, her legacy almost entirely overlooked. But as she nears 80, there’s very little Miss Rona regrets.

How the Pandemic Made Gossip Essential Again [2020]

From the ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot and TikTok tea accounts to DeuxMoi and even the New York Times, a cultural hankering for gossip has come back in a big way.

The Many Scandals of Don’t Worry Darling, Explained [2022]

Darling, I’m beginning to worry!

Finally, an Antidote for the Lack of Low-Stakes Gossip in Our Lives [2022]

If your gossip coffers have been low in the last few years, between narrowing circles of acquaintances and lackluster celebrity narratives, don’t fret. Podcasts and newsletters are here to restore supplies.

Sugar, We’re Going Down Posting [2019]

For thousands of teenage girls, the Livejournal community fbr_trash provided an outlet where emo fans could discuss, gossip about, and troll the bands they loved.

Is The Shade Room Too Toxic To Function? [2020]

The Instagram account quickly became one of the most prominent platforms in the celebrity gossip arena, but it has attracted criticism for the way it covers LGBTQ celebrities.

How Gossip Is Remaking Online Hip-Hop Media [LISTEN]

In the latest iteration of online hip-hop media, actual music can often seem like an afterthought.

Inside Track: An Oral History of Boston Gossip [2021]

An oral history of the rise and fall of Boston’s most loathed (and loved) gossip column.

How Celebrity Gossip Site Crazy Days And Nights Went QAnon [2021]

“I don’t care about made up satanism or pedo rings… The very first post I read here was about Gary Busey trying to use gold doubloons as legitimate currency and tbh I would just like more of that please.”

The Powerful Rivalry of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons [1997]

Between them, the dueling gossip columnists commanded a readership of roughly 75 million while wielding devastating power over the careers of major stars.

Infamous [LISTEN]

Behind every infamous news story is a journalist trying to hold power to account. Join reporters Vanessa Grigoriadis and Gabriel Sherman as they take an in-depth look at the most explosive scandals of this century, from high-profile divorces to sex cults to the lies that started a war.

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