Derek Chadwick hopes his wholesome “non-hookup focused” gay dating app can do away with D pics
Ambitious!
Mark
Derek Chadwick is a total hunk. But if you see him on his own dating app, don’t even think about swiping right or sliding into his DMs with an unsolicited D pic.
Instead, try a simple wave “hello.” 
That’s the congenial energy that Chadwick hopes users cultivate on Goose, which officially launched on Thursday. Billed as “non-hookup focused,” the platform is “intentionally anti-algorithm, label-free and entirely rejects the transactional nature dating apps have become synonymous with,” according to a press release.
By our count, at least four new gay apps have debuted this Pride season. Chadwick and other entrepreneurs are hoping to capitalize on the widespread dissatisfaction among Grindr users, who complain about the app’s deluge of popup ads and scammers, increasingly expensive membership tiers and more.
How about we take this to the next level?
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With 1.3 million followers on Instagram, Chadwick is throwing his considerable muscle behind Goose. The platform also received a boost from PopCrave, guaranteeing it will be viewed on millions of gay guys’ timelines.
Whether gay people are prompted to create accounts, however, is an open question.
Who is Derek Chadwick?
With his Adonis-like build and shaggy hair, Chadwick looks like an Abercrombie model. And he was! The New York native got his start modeling for major apparel lines such as Urban Outfitters, American Eagle and A&F before launching his vegan skincare line, Chaddy, in 2023.
Over the ensuing years, Chadwick has parlayed his good looks–and impeccable skin–into quasi-stardom. Last winter, he made his Off Broadway debut in Drew Droege’s satire Messy White Gays.
Speaking to Them, Chadwick played up his acting chops and disavowed the “InstaGay” label. “People always use that term ‘Instagay’ with me,” he added, “but I feel like I’ve never really been an Instagay.”
While that might be true, Chadwick is leaning into thirst with Goose… despite the app’s platonic marketing.
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What’s good with Goose?
Goose’s press release says it’s on a mission to disprove the notion that gay men are only looking for casual sex online. After creating an account, users can peruse live maps of their city and “wave” at fellow profiles.
“Goose promotes connections formed over shared experiences, in-person, community-based activations, and [allows] attraction to grow over time,” the press release reads.
The premise sounds promising enough (the company says 56,000 people have “pre-downloaded” the app). But specifics are light. I downloaded Goose to try for myself, and can confirm the interface looks a lot like Hinge. One note: it did take a couple of hours for my profile to be verified. Clearly, Goose is not trying to facilitate immediacy.
It wants to facilitate wholesome connections. Speaking of which, do you think any of these guys are on the map? We’d like to, um, wave.
A skeptical audience
When introducing Goose, Chadwick bemoaned the state of the gay dating scene. “I’ve been single for, like, two years,” he said in a video. “How come there are no cool dating apps in 2026?”
On X, many gays doubted whether Chadwick is looking that hard, and if he was, if Goose would be the best place to find the true love he desires.
“This will turn into grindr in approximately three business days,” someone predicted.
In response to the internet chatter, Chadwick told Queerty in a statement that Goose is a “direct response” to the ennui that he and his friends feel around dating apps.
“While we can’t control individual user behavior, we’ve designed Goose from the ground up to move away from the transactional, high-pressure dynamics of traditional dating apps,” he said. “Our goal is to create an experience that reflects real-life connection, where people can engage more authentically, discover shared interests and build relationships at their own pace.”
Legit issues being raised
Cynicism aside, Goose highlights real issues with gay apps. Earlier this month, I spoke with the founder of another startup platform, MeetMarket, that’s designed to be a cross between classified ads and zines.
He raised the point that apps are a low-trust environment. “Entering into that space, I don’t even feel like I need to be myself in any way,” he said. “It’s so transactional.”
No platform plays that up more than Sniffies. The platform’s signature “pump and dump” events are named after crypto scams.
Yet, Sniffies has 3 million monthly active members–and is growing. Meanwhile, Grindr tops the charts with 15 million. It’s an inverse equation: the more gays complain, the more Grindr’s bottom line soars.
Gays say they want something different from their apps, and maybe we’ve reached a breaking point. With a de-emphasis on sex, Goose is certainly trying a different approach. At least, that’s according to their press release.
Goose’s IG page indicates they’re sticking with a more tried and true formula…
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