Could neighbourhood gossip actually pay the bills?

That’s the question many people across Latin America are asking after a Colombian woman went viral for claiming she turned “chisme” into a business—and says it helped her buy not one, but two homes.

Myriam, a 67-year-old woman from Armenia in Colombia’s Quindío department, has captured attention after revealing that she spent years keeping track of everything happening in her neighbourhood. Family feuds, secret relationships, arguments and everyday drama all went into what she calls her personal gossip notebook.

Instead of simply sharing the stories for free, Myriam says she began charging people who wanted to know what was really happening around the neighbourhood. According to her, the price depended on how juicy the information was. The more sensational the gossip, the higher the fee.

Her story exploded on social media after a viral interview, and has since been picked up by several Latin American media outlets. In the interview, Myriam claims the business became so successful that it allowed her to buy the home she had always dreamed of owning and, eventually, a second property.

While her story has been widely reported, those financial claims have not been independently verified. News outlets have largely reported what Myriam herself says, rather than confirming whether the gossip business actually funded the home purchases.

That hasn’t stopped people from weighing in online.

Some have called her a creative entrepreneur who found an unconventional way to make money from something people have always been curious about. Others argue the idea crosses a line, saying there’s nothing admirable about profiting from other people’s private lives.

Whether you see it as a clever hustle or an invasion of privacy, one thing is certain: Myriam’s story has sparked conversations far beyond her Colombian neighbourhood, proving that sometimes the biggest viral stories aren’t about celebrities—they’re about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

So, what do you think?

Is this a brilliant entrepreneurial idea, or does selling neighbourhood gossip go a step too far?