5 Reasons Celebrity Gossip Is Good For You, According To Science

If you’re reading this, then we’re guessing you like celebrity gossip – and you’re in a safe place! Here in Usnot only do we love celebrity gossip, but we know there’s no shame in it either. In fact, there is real scientific, anthropological and psychological evidence that proves that keeping up with all things showbiz and chatting with our peers can make us happier, healthier and more productive. And that’s one wellness trend we can adopt in 2025.

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

But using gossip as a calming 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 Money

Anyone who’s ever pretended to be familiar with a movie, band or podcast they’ve never heard of just to fit in and keep the conversation going will relate to this one: celebrity entertainment and news is the glue that holds social groups together. But when asked who cried Love is Blind last night might seem like just small talk, it can have tangible benefits in the workplace and beyond.

A study by researchers at Stanford and the University of Maryland show that talking casually with other people for about an hour a day leads to more cooperative, team-driven behavior at work. And it all comes down to trust. Back Yuval Noah Harari‘ an innovative book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humanitywe are such social animals that gossip is key to our survival. Chatting casually about breakups, feuds and romances—whether it’s Hollywood stars or the company’s marketing department—puts you in the inner circle when it’s time to hear about the more important things: layoffs, or lions in lurking nearby!

It Boosts Your Creative Confidence

Famous people may seem like they go about their business in an extreme way, but following their lives and taking even a little inspiration from their actions and creative endeavors can pay dividends.

If you’re feeling down about the way your career is going, there’s always a celebrity to look up to who’s had the courage to evolve and grow. Worried you’re too old for a promotion? Look at Demi Moore win her first major award — Golden Globe for his pioneering role in The Substance — at 62. Afraid you were too wild in your youth to be taken seriously? Look at Drew Barrymore or Lindsay Lohan now, highly successful stars and entrepreneurs who found peace and satisfaction after years of making scandalous headlines in their youth. Feeling uninspired by your current career and considering a big change? Look at Kate Hudsonwho released her first studio album in her forties after decades of acting, or Dwayne Johnsonwho unexpectedly went from being a wrestler to being a successful star. Suddenly the language course you’ve been thinking about signing up for doesn’t seem so silly, right?

“They (celebrities) are artists so I think, in a way, learning about their lives is a kind of art experience,” Kim said. “It’s an escape for me too, but also a source of inspiration. Not only are the celebrities really creative, they also help us come up with new ideas and new ways of expressing 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 TV show can quickly turn you completely forensic on a subject you knew nothing about before – perhaps a true crime story in which a beloved actor has appeared on Netflix, or a health issue. , like menopause or cancer, which a big star has raised awareness of. And how many of us have greatly enriched our knowledge of certain religions and cultures by watching similar shows The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives? That’s right, you’re not just weeding out in front of the TV, you’re doing important cultural research!

Those who choose not to get celebrity gossip because they think it’s shallow are missing out on a broader view of the world. If even the smartest man in the world isn’t blinkered by academia, it’s okay for the rest of us to use a wide range of media too. Plus, it makes us dynamite in trivia night – who else can name them all Nick Cannon‘children, or all American Idol winners in chronological order?

It Normalizes the Harder Parts of Life

If you’re going through something challenging—perhaps a major breakup, infertility or mental health issues—you’re sure to find someone famous who’s been there, talked about it or even written entire albums about it. Yes, there is a reason Taylor Swift beloved by multiple generations of Swifties – she expresses the things we all feel far more eloquently than we ever could and makes us feel less alone in the process.

But it’s not just Swift: tons of celebrities are very open emotionally, whether it’s through their song lyrics, Instagram posts or on 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 having a direct line to their everyday lives can be a real boon in our darkest times .

If you struggle with anxiety, you know it Selena Gomez gets it. And if you got back with your ex even though all your friends told you it was a bad idea, Jennifer Lopez can relate.

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

It’s Fun!

Is celebrity gossip shallow? Sometimes! Does that matter? No! As Kim said, gossip helps her feel less anxious – and that’s not to be taken lightly. Life is stressful, things get heavy, and you don’t always want to get home from a hard day and watch the news or read an 800 page historical novel. Sit down to Real Housewives while texting your friends about the unfolding drama, or sharing another funny one Wicked A meme on social media can boost your well-being and make you feel calmer.

In fact, the word gossip came from an old English term “godsibb” which described women who supported other women during childbirth. Over the years, it developed and took on different, and sometimes negative, connotations. Sure, it sometimes feels like there’s a fine line between gossip and judgement, but keeping it fun, frivolous and frothy is nothing to be ashamed of.

And we don’t like to gossip (ahem…), but guess what: everyone does it – they just don’t know it. Although gossip is often seen and dismissed as a feminine pastime, men enjoy it as much as women, they just frame it differently. Research 2022 published by the BBC While a woman might return from holiday and ask her colleagues “what’s the gossip?”, men instead say “what’s been going on?” or “what did I miss?”. They will also suggest “post-meeting discussions” and “corridor chats” which are actually, yup, gossip. Spread it!

We thought actor Morgan Spector put it brilliantly when he said The Cut that gossip is key to understanding strangers. “If someone has a juicy tidbit, what’s better?” said the star of HBO’s The Golden Age. “Talking about other people is one of life’s great pleasures. I think gossip is underrated. It usually gives you an atypical insight into someone else’s life, how they live, into their character. It’s not just the scandal or the surprise; that you also go, Oh, that’s who they are, and then you get to unpack that—at length, ideally. “

Here in Uswe love nothing better than a lengthy unpacking. Let’s take the shame out of gossip!