

25 for 25: The Future of Celebrity Profiles With GQ’s Zach Baron
Jul 17, 2025
Join Zach Baron, Senior Special Projects Editor at GQ, as he delves into the fascinating world of celebrity profiles. He shares insights on the art of interviewing celebrities like Martin Scorsese and Brendan Fraser, emphasizing the shift towards authentic storytelling. The conversation also tackles the ethical dilemmas of access and representation, and Brendan’s remarkable comeback narrative. With humor and curiosity, Baron reveals how social media influences celebrity narratives and questions whether the profile format is evolving or fading.
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The Value of Good Celebrity Profiles
- Zach Baron loves writing celebrity profiles because they capture fascinating, complex lives beyond superficial coverage.
- He believes the art form is underrated due to many poor practitioners but has great potential when done well.
Aim to Understand Celebrity Minds
- Strive to understand how a celebrity's brain works and conveys their thought process.
- Use the profile to reveal authentic insights rather than just satisfying readers with style.
A Vulnerable Moment With 50 Cent
- Zach nearly tricked 50 Cent into mentoring him on life, showing a vulnerable side rarely covered.
- He learned to balance telling great stories while respecting real human complexity, avoiding exploitation.