The Clues to Gossip Girl Were There

The Enthralling Mystery of Gossip Girl

From the pilot in 2007 to the last episode in 2012, audiences were enthralled with the question 'Who is Gossip Girl?,' and the eventual Gossip Girl reveal caused a fair bit of confusion. Gossip Girl graced the screens of viewers around the world and could draw the audience into their televisions each week to find out what the Upper East Side elite was up to. As audiences know, the mystery around Gossip Girl's account and what their ultimate plan was for the young and rich was very enveloping. Serena (Blake Lively), Blair (Leighton Meester), and all of their friends were only in high school, but their secrets and drama-filled lives were intriguing and very far-fetched from the normal lives of average Americans.

Dan Humphrey at his computer in the Gossip Girl pilot

So, now that audiences know that Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) was Gossip Girl, it makes sense that the identity of the troublemaking blogger would be the official outsider. Taking a look back at all the breadcrumbs along the way, viewers completely missed several tell-tale signs that he was the mastermind behind the takedown of friendships and wreaking havoc on the rich. Showrunners tried to throw viewers off the trail with red herrings like Michelle Trachtenberg's Georgina Sparks or Hilary Duff's Olivia Burke, but the ending put the question 'Who is Gossip Girl?' to bed. It's safe to say that Dan got a pretty fitting ending, while others did not.

Serena and Dan at the bottom of the steps in Gossip Girl

The Pilot: Unveiling the Truth

Gossip Girl had audiences asking 'Who is Gossip Girl?' straight from the pilot — and it is the pilot that reveals their identity. When viewers are first shown the pairing of Gossip Girl to the website, audiences are given a deeper look into how serious this blogger is. This is also the point where the anonymous blogger says their identity will remain a secret, but then Dan shows up. The shot literally turns to Dan in his apartment on his computer. Despite this clear indicator, it was such a shock to audiences when he was the one who turned out to be everyone's nemesis in the end.

Dan listening to Nate and Chuck on the bus in Gossip Girl

It all starts with the Gossip Girl pilot episode when Serena is coming back from boarding school and is 'spotted'. A huge clue is given out about the 'Who is Gossip Girl?' question then and there. It's a bit suspicious that Dan is the only other main character at Grand Central station, at the exact time viewers first hear from Gossip Girl. Audiences are made to think that it is the first time Dan spots his major crush throughout the series, but it's known more as a major clue, rather than a major scene. After all, Dan had been watching her from afar before that.

A phone contact list on Gossip Girl

Before viewers know that Dan is Gossip Girl, it is made to look like his character is becoming part of the small circle of elite students because he is now attending the same school as them. However, now, his presence can be seen in a different light. It is shocking that Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass are even on public transportation in the pilot episode, but is pretty normal for Dan since he lived in Brooklyn. The way Dan hovers and lingers is a true clue to how he got the gossip early on. He spends a lot of time trying to look like he's not paying attention.

Nate and Dan talk at a party in Gossip Girl

The Subtle Clues Unveiled

It was always so back and forth with Dan and Serena, but when the Gossip Girl couple first meet, it is clear they have chemistry. However, upon meeting each other in the pilot, Serena leaves her phone at the Palace Hotel and Dan doesn't return it until the next day. Before passcodes and touch IDs, it is easier to gain access to a phone, which Dan does. All he has had to do is open it up. The number of conversations and personal information on Serena's phone is probably a gold mine, and provides an immediate clue for audiences to answer 'Who is Gossip Girl?' so early in the series.

Dan on the phone while Blair listens in on Gossip Girl

Though Dan is Gossip Girl, he makes a big show about not knowing what the blog is when Jenny mentions it to him in the pilot episode. Once the cat is out of the theoretical bag, everyone is buzzing about this mystery person and how they have so much sordid information about the lives of the Upper West Side elite. All of Dan's friends and acquaintances bring it up, and at every turn, Dan manages to keep a straight face and claims he never read the blog. He also didn't seem to want to talk about it, which makes it seem like he's dodging the whole topic in general.

Dan and Nate exchanging a piece of paper in Gossip Girl

One of the most obvious clues to suspecting Dan is Gossip Girl all along is because he is included in the take-down of Gossip Girl. Sure, toxic friends Blair and Serena get spotlighted a lot, but to nickname Dan 'Lonely Boy' and give him a reason for being recognized is huge. Gossip Girl hones in on the rich and elite, so if it wasn't Dan, why would he even be included? Dan isn't a member of the elite and shouldn't have been on the radar, but he doesn't want to be looked at as an outsider anymore. Between his moniker and his otherness, it's no wonder he started the blog.

Dan holding up his finger while on the phone as Blair and Serena look on, annoyed, with copies of his book between them in Gossip Girl