Gossip Girl

In the original series, Eric van der Woodsen is an openly gay main character, and his relationship with Jonathan Whitney is depicted. Chuck Bass also makes a comment about having kissed men in season 3, suggesting a broader sexuality not explicitly explored. The HBO Max reboot features Luna La, a transgender character, whose identity is handled as an ordinary aspect of her person, not defining her entire character. Additionally, Max Wolfe is pansexual and has gay parents, Gideon Wolfe and Roy Sachs. Akeno 'Aki' Menzies is bisexual and explores his sexuality, notably engaging in a throuple with Audrey Hope and Max Wolfe. Monet de Haan is explicitly confirmed as a lesbian, with her relationships with other women, such as Tiffany, being shown. Rafa Caparros is a gay teacher who is depicted sexually preying on students.

In the pilot episode of the original series, Chuck Bass attempts to sexually assault Jenny Humphrey (a 14-year-old) on a rooftop and Serena van der Woodsen in a hotel kitchen. Later in the series, Chuck Bass attempts to set up Blair Waldorf to be raped by his uncle in exchange for a hotel, and also has an incident where he throws an object at Blair, causing glass shards to hit her cheek. The original series also depicts Eric van der Woodsen's suicide attempt by slitting his wrists in the first episode, leading to his hospitalization. Bart Bass, Chuck's father, is shown physically threatening Lily van der Woodsen.

The original series features numerous depictions of romantic and sexual relationships, including Serena van der Woodsen having an affair with Nate Archibald, leading to him losing his virginity. Nate Archibald also engages in a transactional sexual relationship with Duchess Shelley Johnson for money. The HBO Max reboot explicitly states it contains "full male frontal nudity" and "brief but also female frontal nudity," with sex scenes occurring in almost every episode or every other episode. In the reboot, Max Wolfe, Aki Menzies, and Audrey Hope form a polyamorous throuple, with implied and depicted sexual intimacy among them. Additionally, the reboot includes a controversial storyline where a teacher, Rafa Caparros, sexually preys on his students. The original series also had an episode featuring a sexual threesome and used a 'ménage à trois' in an ad campaign.

The original CW series frequently used terms like "a--," "h--l," "b--ch," and misuses of God's name. Parental reviews and Reddit discussions confirm that while the original, being on network television, rarely used the 'f-word', it did contain other strong language. The HBO Max reboot explicitly includes "heavy cussing" and "a couple f-words" throughout its episodes, contributing to its TV-MA rating.

In the original series, Nate Archibald's father is depicted as being on "hard drugs," highlighting themes of addiction within the family. Serena van der Woodsen is involuntarily drugged on two separate occasions by other characters, Georgina Sparks and Juliet Sharp, in different seasons. Chuck Bass is noted for abusing alcohol, and the series generally portrays teens with "drug habits." The HBO Max reboot also features frequent alcohol consumption by underage characters and references to drug use, contributing to its TV-MA rating.

The pilot episode of the original series includes Chuck Bass attempting to sexually assault Jenny Humphrey and Serena van der Woodsen, which is a highly intense and disturbing event. Eric van der Woodsen's attempted suicide by slitting his wrists is depicted in the first episode, establishing a dark emotional tone early in the series. Chuck Bass also displays emotionally and physically abusive behavior towards Blair Waldorf, including a scene where he almost physically assaults her, leading to shattering glass. The pervasive themes of blackmail, betrayal, and relentless public exposure by 'Gossip Girl' create constant suspense and emotional intensity for the characters.

The core premise of both series revolves around teenagers and young adults, particularly from affluent backgrounds, engaging in constant gossip, backstabbing, and schemes against each other and adults. In the HBO Max reboot, teachers create the 'Gossip Girl' account precisely because they are "tired of being bullied by her students," indicating significant disrespect from students towards authority figures. Characters like Blair Waldorf are known for their "unapologetic bitchiness" and Jenny Humphrey for her "near sociopathic dedication to social climbing," showcasing overt disregard for others' feelings and rules. Children are frequently shown disobeying their parents and engaging in subterfuge.