10 Disturbing Ways Joe Goldberg Is Just A Darker Dan Humphrey: The Unsettling 'You' And 'Gossip Girl' Fan Theory Explained

The enduring and unsettling fan theory that Joe Goldberg from Netflix's *You* is merely an older, more homicidal version of Dan Humphrey from *Gossip Girl* continues to captivate pop culture discourse, especially as of late 2024. This connection, fueled primarily by the fact that both characters are played by the same actor, Penn Badgley, goes far deeper than a simple casting coincidence, revealing a disturbing narrative throughline about voyeurism, privilege, and the 'nice guy' facade. The parallels between the Upper East Side's "Lonely Boy" and the serial-killing bookseller are so numerous and intentional that they blur the lines between two separate fictional universes, making the 'Dan is Joe' theory one of the most compelling and chilling in modern television.

The conversation has remained fresh thanks to Penn Badgley himself, who has frequently weighed in on the comparisons, acknowledging the similarities while also highlighting the key differences that escalate Dan’s judgmental nature into Joe’s murderous obsession. While show creators have never officially confirmed a shared universe, the deliberate Easter eggs and thematic echoes in *You* serve as a constant nod to its CW predecessor, suggesting that the spirit of Dan Humphrey’s dark voyeurism lives on in Joe Goldberg’s murderous internal monologue.

Joe Goldberg's Profile: The Evolution of a Stalker

To fully appreciate the connection, it is essential to first look at the man at the center of the storm: the actor who brought both Dan Humphrey and Joe Goldberg to life.

• Full Name: Penn Dayton Badgley
• Born: November 1, 1986 (Age 38 as of late 2024)
• Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
• Occupation: Actor, Musician
• Spouse: Domino Kirke (m. 2017)
• Notable Roles (Television):
  • Dan Humphrey: *Gossip Girl* (2007–2012)
  • Joe Goldberg: *You* (2018–Present)
• Character Biography (Dan Humphrey): An aspiring writer from Brooklyn who infiltrates the world of Manhattan elite. He is revealed to be the anonymous blogger "Gossip Girl," who spent years stalking and exposing his friends and loved ones.
• Character Biography (Joe Goldberg): A highly intelligent, charismatic, yet deeply delusional and obsessive stalker and serial killer. He often works in bookstores, sees himself as a romantic hero, and uses his internal monologue to justify his horrific actions against the women he claims to love.
• Key Entities/Themes: Voyeurism, Obsession, Writing/Narrative, Isolation, The 'Nice Guy' Trope, Privilege, Stalking, Murder, Book Culture.

The 10 Most Disturbing Parallels Between Dan Humphrey and Joe Goldberg

The 'Dan is Joe' theory posits that after the events of *Gossip Girl*, Dan's revelation as the titular blogger led to a complete psychological break, causing him to flee New York, change his name, and fully embrace his darker tendencies. The following parallels illustrate why this theory refuses to die.

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1. The Obsessive Writer and Narrator

Both Dan and Joe are writers obsessed with crafting a narrative, and their inner monologues form the core of their respective shows. Dan was "Gossip Girl," a writer who stalked, judged, and controlled the lives of the Upper East Siders through an anonymous blog. Joe is a writer who narrates his entire life, justifying his stalking and murder as a form of "true love" and a necessary step in his personal story. The transition from Dan's "XOXO, Gossip Girl" to Joe's chilling internal "You" is a direct, terrifying evolution of the same voyeuristic compulsion.

2. The 'Outsider' Status and Judgmental Nature

Dan Humphrey was the "Lonely Boy," an outsider from Brooklyn who constantly judged the wealth and privilege of his Manhattan peers while simultaneously longing to be accepted by them. Joe Goldberg adopts a similar stance, often viewing himself as morally superior to the wealthy, vapid people he encounters, even as he commits far worse crimes. This shared resentment and desire for proximity to the elite is a fundamental character trait.

3. The Objectification of Women as 'Muses'

Dan's entire relationship with Serena van der Woodsen was built on his ability to observe and write about her, effectively turning her into his muse and a character in his narrative. Joe takes this objectification to its ultimate extreme, viewing every woman he pursues (Guinevere Beck, Love Quinn, Marienne Bellamy) not as a person, but as a project—a broken soul he must "fix" and "save" to complete his own romantic fantasy.

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4. The Intentional Easter Eggs in *You*

The creators of *You* have repeatedly thrown fuel on the fan-theory fire with direct references. In one of the most famous moments, Joe asks himself, "Who am I?"—an unmistakable callback to the infamous line from every *Gossip Girl* opening: "Who am I? That’s a secret I’ll never tell." Furthermore, Penn Badgley once jokingly narrated a *Gossip Girl* scene in Joe Goldberg's chilling voice, explicitly linking the two personas.

5. The Use of Technology for Stalking

Dan Humphrey's weapon of choice was a blog and a cell phone, using digital anonymity to monitor and expose everyone he knew. Joe Goldberg's primary tools are social media, hacking, and hidden cameras. The shift from Dan’s old-school blogging to Joe’s modern digital stalking perfectly illustrates the technological escalation of their shared voyeuristic tendencies over a decade.

6. The Physical Transformation

Penn Badgley himself noted a difference, saying he was "thicker" as Dan Humphrey, while Joe is "way more of a loner and way nerdier." This subtle physical and demeanor change between the two characters supports the theory that "Joe" is a persona Dan adopted when he became more isolated, unhinged, and focused on his dark obsessions.

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7. The Desire for Control

Dan’s entire motivation as Gossip Girl was to control the narrative of his friends' lives, including his own. He manipulated events, relationships, and reputations to achieve his desired outcome: acceptance and love. Joe's motivation is also control; he isolates his victims, removes obstacles (often permanently), and dictates every aspect of their lives to fit his ideal of a perfect relationship.

8. The Progression of Unlikability

As *Gossip Girl* progressed, Dan Humphrey became increasingly unlikable, culminating in the shocking and widely criticized reveal that he was the stalker who tormented his friends for years. Many fans see Joe Goldberg as the logical, final step in this decline—a character whose fundamental flaws (judgment, obsession, control) were simply amplified and made lethal in a new setting.

9. The Shared 'Nice Guy' Facade

Both characters present themselves as humble, intellectual, and morally upright "nice guys" who are better than the people around them. This façade is a key element of their deception. Dan used his 'nice guy' image to get close to Serena and the others, while Joe weaponizes his charm and bookish demeanor to lure his victims into a false sense of security.

10. The Narrative of Escape and Reinvention

The theory suggests that after the public backlash and scrutiny following the Gossip Girl reveal, Dan Humphrey would have had to flee New York and reinvent himself to escape his past. Adopting the name "Joe Goldberg" and moving to a new city (New York to Los Angeles to London, etc.) is the perfect mechanism for Dan to shed his old identity and embrace his new, darker compulsion without accountability.

Topical Authority: Penn Badgley's Own View on the Comparison

In various interviews, Penn Badgley has been incredibly insightful about the parallels, often providing the most compelling evidence for the theory's thematic resonance. He has stated that while the characters are not literally the same person, they share a disturbing psychological lineage. Badgley noted that Dan Humphrey's reveal as Gossip Girl made him a "stalker," which is the very foundation of Joe Goldberg's character. The actor's perspective solidifies the idea that Joe represents the dark potential that was always lurking beneath Dan’s brooding, judgmental surface.

Furthermore, Badgley has acknowledged that the two characters are fundamentally different in their core motivation, stating he feels Joe is "technically speaking, way more of a loner and way nerdier than Dan." However, he also recognizes that the transition from a judgmental writer to a murderous stalker is a believable narrative path. The shared DNA is not a literal timeline but a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked obsession, voyeurism, and the self-serving narrative of the 'good guy' who believes his actions are justified by love or a higher purpose. The continued popularity of the 'Dan is Joe' theory in 2024 is a testament to the chilling power of Penn Badgley's portrayal of two characters who are disturbingly two sides of the same coin.