A blind item is a news story, usually gossip, in which the details of the matter are reported while the identities of the people involved are not revealed. The invention of the blind item is credited to William d'Alton Mann, publisher of Town Topics, who often used it for blackmail.

One of the most famous Blind Items was started by Ted Casablanca. The E! Entertainment gossip columnist often writes about the infamous Toothy Tile, the young male celebrity who won't come out of the closet (rumored to be actor Jake Gyllenhaal) and his boyfriend Grey Goose (rumored to be actor Austin Nichols).