Gossip Girl producer admits he regrets not featuring 'people of color and gay story lines' in the show, which had an all-white main cast, as he reveals it was meant to be far more sexually-explicit

Executive producer Josh Safran told Variety that he regrets not featuring more diverse character in the iconic show
All of Gossip Girl's main characters were white, except Vanessa, originally a supporting role played by Jessica Szohr, who is half-white and half-black
Although Chuch Bass' character was openly bisexual in the books, the story line was left out of the show
Safran said he also regrets having to leave out scenes that were too graphic

Published: 21:39 GMT, 20 September 2017 | Updated: 22:42 GMT, 20 September 2017

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Gossip Girl's depiction of New York's Upper East Side made it one of the most beloved shows in recent history, but one of the minds behind it says he regrets only including white, straight characters in the narrative.

In a new interview in honor of the 10th anniversary of the series, executive producer Josh Safran shared some of the show's secrets, opening up about scenes he wishes he didn't have to sensor, actors who could've ended up playing the iconic characters, and missed opportunities.

Safran told Vulture that he doesn't have many regrets about his production choices, but does wish the show had had a more diverse cast.

All-white Upper East Side: Gossip Girl's executive producer Josh Safran said he regrets not including more diversity in the iconic show

XOXO: 'The only things I regret were not as much representation for people of color and gay story lines,' Safran told Vulture

'The only things I regret were not as much representation for people of color and gay story lines,' he said.

PG: Safran (pictured) said he also regrets not showing certain graphic scenes

'Those are the two things I think we probably could have delved into more deeply.'

The show's fabulous main characters were indeed all white, with the exception of Vanessa, played by Jessica Szohr, who is half-white and half-black.

The majority of the main cast were also all straight; Eric, the brother of Blake Lively's character Serena, played by Connor Paolo, came out as gay during the show, but, as a peripheral character, his love life wasn't featured much and the story line wasn't ever delved into.

Moreover, as Cosmopolitan magazine pointed out, Chuck Bass' character, played by Ed Westwick, was openly bisexual in the books, an element of the storyline which was not included in the TV series.

But while it is perhaps his biggest, portraying the Upper East Side as only white and straight is not Safran's only regret about Gossip Girl.

One exception: All of Gossip Girl's main characters were white, with the exception of Vanessa, played by Jessica Szohr (right), who is half-white and half-black

Serena's little brother: Eric, played by Connor Paolo, came out as gay during the show, but, as a peripheral character, his love life wasn't featured much (pictured in red with the cast)

'Other than [lack of diversity], I only regret things like not showing Chuck finger Blair and the dildos and other sexual stuff,' he added, recalling two story lines that were left in the cutting room for being too explicit.

One unrealized scene, Safran shared, would've showed Chuck 'taking care of Blair [played by Leighton Meester] under a table,' but producers weren't able to do it because of the graphic nature, and instead hinted at it.

Another scene, which had to be deleted from the show, saw Dan, played by Penn Badgley, receiving a box of 'really huge dildos' sent by one of Serena's enemies.

'We cut it because you couldn’t show them on air,” said Safran. 'The deleted-scene version, which I don’t think we ever put anywhere, is hilarious because they’re like a foot and a half long. Penn was really shocked.'

The producer also revealed that Chuck and Blair, not the first main couple, Serena and Dan, were really the center of the story and the characters they enjoyed writing for the most.

Additionally, he said that Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for Serena's role when she was just 16 years old, opening a Pandora's box about what the show, and Hollywood, would've looked like if she had gotten the part.