Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal and the politics of celebrity gossip

The usually reliable People Magazine had to eat a little crow after breaking the story that Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal had split-up, after one of it’s rivals, US Magazine, turned the tables on them. US Magazine quickly countered with their own story saying the break-up rumor was false after talking to Reese’s spokesperson, who said, “They have not split.”

I have noticed for years how People Magazine has quickly doused hot rumors by rivals, with a quick counter story of their own using a stars spokesperson to deny the story. I say ‘using’ because I think in some cases it’s obvious there is merit to a story (the early Madonna wants a divorce from Guy Ritchie rumors comes to mind), but spokepeople are often instructed to deny to protect their clients and perhaps manage a better timing to admit the truth. It’s a win-win for magazines like People to do this, because it builds points and perhaps cooperation with the star and their spokeperson in the future, while taking a rival’s exclusive story down a peg.