Plus several cast and crew have posted their takes on their own social media channels fueling the gossip.
Whats the psychology behind our cultural obsession with gossip?
Heres what two psychologists have to say.
What Is Gossip, Exactly?
Anytime youre talking about people who arent present, its gossip, Dr. Ludden says.
Why Are We So Drawn to Gossip?
Basically, gossip can help you go into social encounters more prepared for whats coming.
It can also be a way to build relationships.
Sharing gossip can bond people socially, Dr. Benning says.
It provides a currency of private information that creates a shared sense of the community holding that information.
So, gossip is particularly compelling for people who are seeking to connect with others.
Were also drawn to gossip for some not-so-great reasons.
Thats not a healthy approach to building a sense of self esteem.
Astudy published in May 2019 in the journalFrontiers in Psychologyvalidates all of this.
Gathering and validating information about the person being gossiped about was the strongest.
As a result, those who were ostracized tended to change their behavior and act more cooperatively.
Ask yourself how youd feel if the person youre talking about overheard your conversation.
Would you feel comfortable about others talking about you in the same way?
If you answered no to either or both questions, the gossip is likely the negative key in.
So what motivates us to gossip about A-listers we dont socialize with (and probably never will)?
Just because weve never met these celebrities doesnt mean we dont have relationships with them.
What we do is we createparasocial relationships, or imaginary relationships, with them, Ludden says.
Like gossip itself, these relationships can be healthy or unhealthy depending on the circumstances.
It can feel uncomfortable and vulnerable to share information about your own worlds, Frank says.
It can also serve as a form of stress relief.
Scrolling through celebrity gossip puts us in a dissociated state where we can take breaks from difficult feelings.
Allison Young, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist providing services via telehealth throughout New York and Florida.
She previously taught and mentored medical trainees at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Young graduated magna cum laude fromGeorgetown University with a bachelor of science degree in neurobiology and theology.
During her psychiatry training, Young sought additional training in womens mental health and cognitive behavioral therapy.
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