New “Gossip Girl” Will “Wrestle With Privilege” More Than Original Series

The premiere of HBO Max’s highly-anticipated Gossip Girl revival is just around the corner, and the series creators keep teasing that things will be a bit different when we head back to the Upper East Side. For starters, unlike in the original series, the protagonists’ lavish lifestyles won’t be glorified. 

In a new interview with Variety, series creator Josh Safran revealed that the new GG bunch will “wrestle with their privilege in a way that the original didn’t.” Safran also noted the show’s aspirational notes reside “more in wanting to be like the characters and less having what they have. Also, looking at it through Zoya’s [Whitney Peak’s character] eyes, you get a little bit of, ‘Careful what you wish for.’”

“In light of [Black Lives Matter], in light of a lot of things, even going back to Occupy Wall Street, things have shifted,” Safran added. “I think the first [‘Gossip Girl’] showed a little bit of wealth porn or privilege porn, like, ‘Look at these cars, or here’s a montage of the best plated food you’ve ever seen.”

In the new GG world, web blogs will be replaced by Instagram accounts and, as Safran recounted, limos will be replaced by Ubers – and while some fans are fully on board with the idea others are not so thrilled.

“The whole appeal of gossip girl is that they're spoiled, rich kids far removed from reality, obsessed with materialism and themselves...rich people aren't socially conscious. their morals are questionable, their lifestyles [opulent] which makes them ENTERTAINING FFS!,” a user tweeted after learning about the tone shift. 

“I actually prefer when the characters are vapid, wealthy, unrelenting in their wealth. I don’t think anyone wants to watch wealthy people struggle with guilt over their privilege, we want the money to ruin their lives in fun and unique ways while being surveilled by gossip girl,” another one noted. “I love class awareness and social justice as much as the next guy,, even tho this is mad performative,, but I swear the *purpose* of Gossip Girl is the thoughtless glorification of [wealth], privilege, and upper-class drama??” a third one added.

See more (mixed) reactions below:

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue