Blind items are anonymous gossip columns popular in Hollywood celebrity gossip. They protect publications from legal ramifications and pique reader interest. Blind items are brief, often phrased as questions, and can be verified later. Long-term readers can use clues to identify the subject.
A blind item is a gossip column in which the identities of the people under discussion are obscured, usually with witty clues for readers to untangle. These columns are especially popular in Hollywood celebrity gossip columns. Many entertainment publications regularly publish a blind article column, inviting readers to guess the topics and fueling speculation about various celebrities. Some people make a living chasing these items, digging up shoddy information about famous celebrities and using it to fuel interest in gossip magazines and tabloids.
The main reason to post a bunch of juicy gossip as a blind item is because the gossip can’t be confirmed. By publishing a work this way, the author can protect the publication from legal ramifications, such as a libel suit from a sore subject. Blind articles also pique reader interest, often garnering far more response than a column in which the identities of the subjects are revealed. That column can also be used as a promotional tool, with one publication suggesting people will find out more if they buy the magazine or tune in next week for more details.
Blind items are typically very brief and are often phrased in the form of a question, such as: “What carrot-headed celebrity hasn’t gone to court-mandated rehab?” They’re especially popular on celebrity gossip websites, with readers responding with their guesses in the comments. Reader Exchanges can get quite heated at times, as people rush to champion certain celebrities or promote their opinions. The author usually stays out of the conversation to avoid being accused of specifically confirming or denying a particular theory about the identity of the column subject.
Sometimes, information will be verified later after publication, usually in a longer article. In other cases, the gossip takes a back seat, because it never occurred. Blind articles are designed to create a short buzz and are quickly replaced by more celebrity gossip in an extremely rapid news cycle.
In publications where a blind item column is a well-established tradition, the author often includes clues referencing previous columns or making jokes about the publication. Long-term readers can use these clues to identify the subject of the blind item without much difficulty, while the item itself stays true to the letter of the law by not explicitly naming anyone.
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