You Didn't Hear This From Me: (Mostly) True Notes on Gossip

You Didn’t Hear This From Me is a timely response to evolving norms around communication, power, and identity in the digital age. McKinney’s examination of gossip is rooted in a 21st-century landscape shaped by social media, reality television, parasocial relationships, and decentralized networks of influence. In this environment, traditional gatekeepers of truth—such as journalism, academia, and the legal system—are increasingly challenged by informal channels of information exchange. Gossip, once dismissed as frivolous or immoral, has now become a way for marginalized individuals and communities to assert their agency, share warnings, and build solidarity outside of institutional structures.

The book’s publication coincides with heightened public discourse around gendered double standards, institutional abuse, and the consequences of virality. McKinney draws from her own background as a journalist and a podcast host to examine the impact of gossip as a cultural force with emotional and ethical dimensions. Her analysis of figures like Britney Spears, Picasso, and “West Elm Caleb” reflects the fact that society has been forced to reevaluate public and private boundaries in light of movements like #MeToo and the increasing scrutiny of power dynamics in media and art. By connecting her own personal experiences of growing up in an evangelical community with the patterns inherent in broader cultural phenomena, McKinney reveals that gossip functions equally well within intimate circles and across mass audiences.