Kelsey McKinney opens her latest collection of essays on gossip with a line from Emily Dickinson: “Tell all the truth but tell it slant.” This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the theme of You Didn’t Hear This From Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip—an exploration of how gossip shapes society, wielding both influence and controversy.
As the co-creator of the hit podcast Normal Gossip, McKinney initially sought to challenge gossip’s reputation as a sinful and trivial act, often dismissed as mere “women’s talk.” However, her deep dive into the subject revealed a more complex and slippery phenomenon. Dickinson’s words serve as a fitting guide to McKinney’s inquiry: What is truth, what is slant, and who controls the narrative?
McKinney approaches gossip with intellectual curiosity, analyzing its historical and cultural significance. She examines how a provocative Doja Cat lyric connects to the theory of mind and how the infamous Mean Girls burn book once served as a tool for students to expose a predatory teacher. Drawing from sources as diverse as the Apostle Paul, philosopher John Stuart Mill, ChatGPT, celebrity gossip hub DeuxMoi, and Town Tattle—a 1920s equivalent of Gossip Girl—she presents gossip as both an ancient and evolving force.
Before stepping down as host of Normal Gossip last year, McKinney introduced each guest with a simple yet revealing question: What is your relationship with gossip? This inquiry echoes throughout her book, illustrating how gossip can be both a weapon and a lifeline—whether among teenagers maneuvering school rivalries or women warning coworkers about workplace predators.
Gossip, McKinney argues, is difficult to define. It is often mischaracterized as slander, libel, or even hate speech, yet it exists in a gray area between fact and interpretation. She describes it as a “transitory, imaginary space between events and their codifying,” making it a powerful tool for the marginalized and a threat to those in power.
Ultimately, McKinney suggests that gossip is not defined by its tone but by its perspective. From ancient storytellers recounting The Epic of Gilgamesh to modern-day group chats dissecting personal drama, gossip remains second-hand knowledge, shaped by those who share it. It is this very slant—the blend of truth and embellishment—that makes gossip both irresistible and formidable.
