For the first time since Michelle Trachtenberg’s death in February, Leighton Meester spoke out about her former “Gossip Girl” co-star’s death.
“It’s devastating,” Meester said in an interview with Flaunt. “She was a wonderful, talented person, and everyone loved her. It’s very, very sad for everyone who knew her.”
Trachtenberg was found dead in her New York City apartment on February 26, with her cause of death being determined as “complications of diabetes mellitus.”
Trachtenberg played Georgina Sparks and made numerous appearances during “Gossip Girl’s” 2007-2012 run.
Other ‘Gossip Girl’ Co-Stars Shared Touching Tributes
Following the news of Trachtenberg’s death, many of her former “Gossip Girl” co-stars shared tributes on social media.
Blake Lively (Serena van der Woodsen)
“This is the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head-on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself. And she always had yummy caramel smelling lipgloss on because she didn’t just want to sparkle on camera, she liked creating a nice experience for anyone who was in her orbit, even down to the subtle smell of her lipgloss because she cared about the sweet details,” Lively wrote on her Instagram story.
“She was a kind person, through and through.”
“Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday,” she continued.
“Hold those you love and have loved dear. The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
Chace Crawford (Nate Archibald)
“Michelle was one of a kind. I remember her coming on set for the first time and just absolutely owning it. She was a force of nature and just so so unapologetically funny and magnetic.. remembering those years with a big smile. Just a terrible loss. Love you ❤️,” Crawford wrote in an Instagram post.
Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass)
“So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg sending prayers 🙏🏻🤍,” Westwick wrote.
Penn Badgley (Dan Humphrey)
“What I remember of her is she was incredibly quick to laugh,” Badgley told E! News at the Season 5 premiere of “You”. “She was really joyous. We all have our ups and downs, our lights and shadows, but she had this — I mean, she was mature, but she had this childlike, joyous laugh.”
Remembering Georgina Sparks
Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty ImagesIn season one, Trachtenberg made the first of many appearances on “Gossip Girl,” starring as Georgina Sparks, who was a frenemy of Serena van der Woodsen.
Throughout the course of the show, she appeared in 28 episodes and then reprised her role in 2021 when MAX rebooted “Gossip Girl,” which centered around teachers creating an anonymous Instagram account to try and regain control of a group of teenagers at a New York private school. The reboot was ultimately canceled after two seasons.
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Leighton Meester Breaks Her Silence on ‘Gossip Girl’ Co-Star Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death