Leighton Meester breaks her silence on ‘Gossip Girl' costar Michelle Trachtenberg's death

New York Post

07-05-2025

Leighton Meester is opening up about her former 'Gossip Girl' costar's shocking death.
The actress, 39, shared that the news of Michelle Trachtenberg's death hit her particularly hard because they were the same age.
'It's devastating,' Meester revealed to Flaunt Magazine. 'She was a wonderful, talented person, and everyone loved her. It's very, very sad for everyone who knew her.'
6 Michelle Trachtenberg and Leighton Meester attend the grand opening celebration at American Eagle Outfitters, Times Square on November 17, 2009 in New York City.
Getty Images
The 'Good Cop/Bad Cop' star also reflected on the hit CW drama airing for six seasons from 2007 to 2012.
'Now, I can see that [the show's legacy] continues — in some ways, even more so than back then — to live on, which is incredible,' Meester told the outlet.
On the series, the 'That's My Boy' actress played Blair Waldorf while the 'Harriet the Spy' alum starred as Georgina Sparks.
6 Leighton Meester (L) and Michelle Trachtenberg attend the 'You Know You Want It' publication celebration.
Getty Images
Penn Badgley, who portrayed Dan Humphrey, broke his silence on Trachtenberg's death, telling E! News in April that her passing was 'really surreal, really saddening.'
'What I remember of her is she was incredibly quick to laugh,' the actor, 38, added. 'She was really joyous.'
Although they hadn't crossed paths in over 10 years, Badgley said Trachtenberg had a 'really pure heart.'
6 Michelle Trachtenberg, Leighton Meester and Minka Kelly attend the dinner for the NYLON celebration.
Dimitrios Kambouris
Blake Lively (Serena van der Woodsen), meanwhile, reminisced on Trachtenberg's 'electricity' on social media.
'You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed,' the 'A Simple Favor' star wrote on her Instagram Stories in February. 'She laughed the fullest at someone's joked, 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.'
Lively, 37, noted she'll remember how the late star 'always had yummy caramel smelling lipgloss on.'
6 Blake Lively, and Michelle Trachtenberg on 'Gossip Girl.'
©CW Network/Courtesy Everett Col
'Because she didn't just want to sparkle on camera,' she continued, '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.'
Trachtenberg died due to complications from diabetes at age 39. She was found by her mother on Feb. 26 in her Central Park South apartment and had previously undergone a liver transplant in the last year.
'It is with great sadness [we] confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,' Trachtenberg's rep Gary Mantoosh confirmed in a statement to The Post. 'The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.'
6 Leighton Meester and Michelle Trachtenberg on 'Gossip Girl.'
©CW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection
Sources initially speculated that the transplant might have played a part in her passing.
The NYPD confirmed Trachtenberg was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' by police and pronounced dead by EMS workers. They responded to the building after a 911 call reporting a woman in cardiac arrest.
In the months before her death, fans were concerned that Trachtenberg appeared gaunt in her social media pictures.
But, last January, she responded to fan concerns, sharing she was 'happy and healthy' and had never had plastic surgery.
6 Michelle Trachtenberg.
Instagram/michelletrachtenberg
Many other fans and former co-stars took to social media to share their condolences over the heartbreaking death, including another 'Gossip Girl' vet, Ed Westwick.
'So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg,' the 37-year-old wrote on his Instagram Story alongside a snap of the late actress on the series.