5 reasons why celebrity gossip is good for you, according to science

If you’re reading this, we’re guessing you probably love celebrity gossip — and you’re in the safe place! Here in Ournot only do we love celebrity gossip, but we know there’s no shame in it. In fact, there is actual scientific, anthropological and psychological evidence to prove that following all things showbiz and talking about it with our peers can make us happier, healthier and more productive. And that is one wellness trend that we can join in 2025.

Last year, the smartest man in the world,Younghoon Kim — with his astonishingly high IQ of 276—he found that he is obsessed with celebrity newsis a huge fan of K-pop and is always up to date with what’s going on Taylor and Travis. As Kim himself said in his exclusive interview with Our‘ Editor-in-Chief Dan Wakeford“I love celebrity and entertainment news and stories because they help me a lot with my anxiety.”

But using gossip as a soothing antidote to the stresses of everyday life and work isn’t the only reason it’s good for you — even if your IQ isn’t as high as Kim’s…

It gives you social currency

Anyone who’s ever pretended to be familiar with a movie, band, or podcast they’ve never actually heard of just to blend in and carry on a conversation will identify with this: entertainment and celebrity news is the glue that holds social groups together. But as I ask who was watching Love is blind last night might seem like mere conversation, it can have tangible benefits in the workplace and beyond.

Study Researchers from Stanford and the University of Maryland have shown that casual conversation with other people for about an hour a day results in more cooperative, team-oriented behavior at work. And it all comes down to trust. According to Yuval Noah Hararirevolutionary book Sapiens: A brief history of mankindwe are such social animals that gossip is the key to our survival. Casual chatter about breakups, fights, and romances—whether it’s Hollywood superstars or a company’s marketing department—puts you in the inner circle when you need to hear about more important things: layoffs or lions lurking nearby!

It boosts your creative confidence

Celebrities may seem to go about their business in an extreme way, but following their lives and taking even a tiny bit of inspiration from their works and creative endeavors can pay off.

If you’re feeling down about your career progression, there’s always a celebrity you can look up to who had the courage to evolve and grow. Worried you’re too old for a promotion? Look at Demi Moore winning his first major award — Golden Globe for his revolutionary role in Substance — at 62. Afraid you were too wild in your youth to be taken seriously? Look at Drew Barrymore or Lindsay Lohan now also extremely successful stars and entrepreneurs who have found peace and contentment after years of scandalous headlines in their youth. Feeling uninspired in your current career and thinking about a big change? Look at Kate Hudsonwho released her debut studio album in the forties after decades of acting, or Dwayne Johnsonwho unexpectedly went from a wrestler to a blockbuster star. Suddenly that language course you’ve been thinking about enrolling in doesn’t seem so silly anymore, does it?

“They (celebrities) are artists so I think, in a way, learning about their lives is a form of artistic experience,” says Kim. “It is an escape for me, but also a source of inspiration. Not only are celebrities really creative, but they also help us come up with new ideas and new ways to express ourselves. And it helps us become more motivated to become better versions of ourselves.”

It deepens your understanding of the world

What might start as a passing interest in a pop star or a TV show can quickly inspire you to do full forensics on a subject you previously knew nothing about—perhaps a true crime story where your favorite actor appeared on Netflix, or a health issue like menopause or cancer. to which the big star raised awareness. And how many of us have greatly improved our knowledge of certain religions and cultures by watching shows like The Secret Lives of Mormon Women? That’s right, you’re not just vegetating in front of the TV, you’re doing important cultural research!

Those who give up on celebrity gossip because they think it’s shallow miss out on gaining a broader view of the world. If even the smartest man in the world isn’t engrossed in academia, it’s okay for the rest of us to consume a wide range of media. Plus, it makes us trivia night dynamite – who else can name each one Nick Cannonchildren, or all american idol winners in chronological order?

It normalizes the difficult parts of life

If you’re going through something challenging—perhaps a major breakup, infertility, or mental health issues—you’re bound to find a celebrity who’s been there, talked about it, or even written entire albums about it. Yes, there is a reason Taylor Swift is a multi-generational Swiftie favorite – she expresses the things we all feel more eloquently than we ever could, and makes us feel less alone in the process.

But it’s not just Swift: plenty of celebrities are very emotionally open, whether it’s in song lyrics, Instagram posts or reality TV. Before the rise of social media and the Internet in general, many stars seemed untouchable and more like characters than actual human beings — but a direct connection to their everyday lives can be a real boost in our darkest times.

If you struggle with anxiety, you know this Selena Gomez gets it. And if you got back with your ex despite all your friends telling you it was a bad idea, Jennifer Lopez can connect.

All of this can help you relate better to other people’s problems, increasing your emotional intelligence. Gossipers are often considered “good listeners” with “good people skills” — both extremely important so-called soft skills in business and life.

It’s just fun!

Is celebrity gossip shallow? Sometimes! Does it matter? Not! As Kim said, gossiping helps him feel less anxious — and that’s not to be taken lightly. Life is stressful, things get tough and you don’t always want to come home after a hard day and watch the news or read an 800 page historical novel. Sitting down to Real Housewives while texting your friends about the unfolding drama or sharing another hilarious tidbit Wicked social media memes can improve your well-being and make you feel calmer.

In fact, the word gossip comes from the old English term “godsibb” which described women who supported other women during childbirth. Over the years it has developed and taken on different and sometimes negative connotations. Of course, sometimes it feels like there’s a fine line between gossiping and judging, but there’s no need to be ashamed of staying fun, frivolous, and bubbly.

And we don’t like to gossip (ahem…), but guess what: everyone does it – they just don’t know it. While gossip is often thought of and dismissed as a women’s pastime, men indulge in it just as much as women, they just shape it differently. A 2022 survey published by the BBC showed that while a woman comes back from vacation and asks her colleagues “what’s the gossip?”, men instead say “what’s going on?” or “what did I miss?”. They’ll also suggest “post-meeting debrief” and “hallway chats” that are actually, yes, gossip. Spread it!

We meant actor Morgan Spector put it brilliantly when he said Cut that gossip is essential to understanding strangers. “If someone has a juicy bite, what’s better?” the HBO star said The Gilded Age. “Talking about other people is one of life’s greatest pleasures. I think gossip is underrated. It usually gives you an atypical insight into someone else’s life, into how they live, into their character. It is not just a scandal or a surprise; it’s also to say, Oh, that’s them, and then you can unpack it — eventually, ideally.”

Here in Ourwe love nothing better than a long unpacking session. Let’s take the shame out of gossiping!