UCLA

Using a novel dataset of sexual and romantic celebrity relationship histories from whosdatedwho.com, I conduct a 3-part analysis of how rumored ties highlight counter-normative behavior and violate structural network heuristics. Rumored ties about celebrities are produced within social exchanges as a hybrid of gossip and rumor and are useful for highlighting counter-normative behavior violating expected tie formation. I define gossip and rumors and situate discussions about celebrities as a hybrid form of these related concepts. I explain the implications of gossip and rumor’s ability to transmit information about normative violations when these claims are modeled as network ties. Finally, I discuss age gap norms and how these vary based on relationship context and age-gender pairings (e.g., older man-younger woman, etc.).

Analysis 1 examines the structural impact of rumored ties in the context of short cycle and sexuality norms in heterosexual networks using Random Tie Deletion Resampling (RTDR; a combined social network analysis and bootstrapping method). Rumored tie inclusion increases short cycles, increases bisexual nodes, and decreases overall network sexuality. Analysis 2’s motif analysis identifies common gender, edge sexuality, and rumored tie combinations. Female bisexuality is key to short cycle construction and rumored ties usually occur as just one edge within these structures. Analysis 3 examines age gaps and variation in age gaps by relationship type and older partner’s gender. Rumored ties are strongly associated with short-term relationships and older women’s involvement. Hence, rumored ties violate specific norms for age gaps, “over-closeness” in short cycles, and “discordance” in sexuality.

I discuss my findings within a framework of rumors and gossip as statements built from competing concerns about recognizability, plausibility, and salaciousness. I explore this framework by examining age gaps and zodiac incompatibility as similarly plausible occurrences with varying normative recognizability. Rumored ties are more associated with more recognizable age gap norms than less recognizable zodiac norms. My findings indicate gossip and rumor actively balance the recognizability, plausibility, and salaciousness of rumored tie claims. Thus, rumored ties matter as they shape network structures, illustrate norms, and illuminate how we assess and perceive counter-normativity in exchanges of gossip and rumor.