Facts that only the real Gossip Girl fan knows

So you thought you had seen all the episodes of Gossip Girl and now you are a real know-it-all? Well, think again, because there’s a good chance you didn’t know all these facts. Because you may have watched all the episodes three or more times, but even behind the scenes there were many fun facts that you really want to know. Curious how many you got right? Let’s gooo.

1. Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick (Nate and Chuck) lived together at the beginning of the series
To get to know each other better, these two went to a concert of the Arctic Monkeys together and they clicked immediately. So well, in fact, that they decided to rent an apartment together in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York.

2. Chuck's style was inspired by… Jersey Shore
Uh, how exactly? Because if there’s anything that isn’t classy, it’s Jersey Shore. Yes, and that was exactly the idea. A sort of we-don’t-want-it-that-way, you know. ‘Menswear, at that point (when Gossip Girl started) was very… Jersey Shore. I’m very proud we got to break that,’ says the designer of the series. He also adds that they wanted to let men know that it’s okay to dress up.

3. The time Serena spent in LA was inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio
Do you remember that time Serena was casually reading a book and immediately got offered a job by Oscar-winning director David O. Russell? Yes, sometimes Gossip Girl was really just like ~real life~, ahem. This short trip to LA was inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio because Blake Lively was dating him at the time. The writers decided that Gossip Girl needed more Hollywood. Unfortunately, no cameo from Leo, that would have saved this entire plotline, of course.

4. Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for the role of Serena van der Woodsen
Honestly: I can somewhat see this. Minus of course Blake’s beautiful hair, but who has that anyway? According to the creator, J-Law was also quite upset when she heard she didn’t get the role. Understandable.

5. No man in the show wears a belt
That was a requirement from designer Eric Daman. Sebastian Stan already mentioned in an interview in 2020 that one thing he will never forget from his time on Gossip Girl is that he was NEVER allowed to wear a belt. Daman later said that it was indeed one of his ‘pet peeves’. I dare you: find one man in the series who does wear a belt.

6. The author of the original book, Cecily von Ziegesar, has only one complaint
Vanessa is very different in the series than in the book, which led to great displeasure from the author of these books. ‘I think Vanessa is one character they ruined. In the books, she’s kick-ass and has a shaved head and wears a lot of black…’ Well, that’s quite a difference from the character played by Jessica Zshor.

7. It was actually going to be a movie with Lindsay Lohan in the lead role.
Then a series with these characters is really my preference, but secretly I would also quite like to see this… Lindsay Lohan as an Upper East Sider? I can hardly imagine it. Lindsay Lohan downing drinks at Butter or in The Empire? That I can see.

8. Penn Badgley didn’t really enjoy his time on Gossip Girl
Although he admits that he owes everything to the series, he’s not necessarily happy about it. But executive producer Joshua Safran said the following about it: ‘Penn didn’t like being on Gossip Girl, but… He WAS Dan. He may not have liked it, but his character was the closest to who he was.’ Quite funny actually, to hate a series while you’re essentially playing yourself.

9. Chuck Bass learned his American accent from… The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
At times I think he did quite well, but you can still often hear that Ed Westwick is not exactly American. He should have watched a few more episodes of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, because that’s where he mimicked his accent from. And specifically from Carlton Banks, minus the dance. Unfortunately.