What Even Is a Guilty Pleasure?

A guilty pleasure is something you like but would probably hesitate before saying out loud. Not because it’s wrong, just because you don’t feel like explaining yourself. It’s that song you skip when someone’s around but somehow know every lyric to. Or that movie you’ve watched way too many times but still say “it’s not that good” when people ask.

I don’t think the “guilty” part is real guilt. It’s more about embarrassment. Like we’ve all silently agreed there are things you’re allowed to like and things you should keep to yourself. And once something is labeled as “cringe” or “basic,” enjoying it suddenly feels like a crime.

The thing is, guilty pleasures usually show up when you’re tired or bored or just done with everything. You’re not looking for meaning or depth. You just want something familiar. Something that doesn’t require effort. Something that feels safe.

And honestly, those are the things that stick. You forget the “good” movies but remember the ones you rewatch at 1 a.m. You move on from songs you pretend to like, but the ones you secretly love never really leave.

I think guilty pleasures are the most honest version of taste. They’re what you like when you stop trying to be interesting. And maybe that’s why we hide them — because they’re too real.

Maybe they don’t need defending. Maybe they don’t need a label at all. Maybe they’re just proof that sometimes we like things for no reason, and that should be normal.