Leighton Meester Reacts to ‘Devastating’ Death of Gossip Girl Co-Star Michelle Trachtenberg: ‘Everyone Loved Her...’

Leighton Meester is breaking her silence following the shocking death of her Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg. In her emotional Flaunt magazine cover story, Meester reflected on their shared history, the pain of losing someone so young, and the indelible mark Trachtenberg left on everyone around her.

Speaking candidly, Meester expressed how deeply the news affected her, particularly because they were the same age. “It’s devastating,” she shared. “Michelle was someone everyone loved—her energy, her honesty, her laugh. She was magnetic.”

Others close to Trachtenberg also paid tribute. Danny Tamberelli, who starred alongside her in The Adventures of Pete & Pete, recalled the joy and mischief of their early days together. “We grew up learning how to make people laugh,” he said. “She was a master of the clothespin game… she once hid my bass cable on set so I’d hang out with her at lunch. I got the message.”

He remembered her as “a bright light, a firecracker,” and someone who used her voice to advocate for others. “Michelle was someone to look up to in this business—and in the general world at large.”

Fellow Gossip Girl alum Blake Lively also took to Instagram to share her own memories, describing Michelle as “electric.” “You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed,” she wrote. “She was fiercely loyal, brave, big and bold, and distinctly herself.”

Lively also shared a more tender memory: Michelle’s “yummy caramel smelling lipgloss,” which she wore to “create a nice experience for anyone in her orbit.”

As the entertainment industry mourns the loss of a vibrant talent, Meester’s reflections in Flaunt offer a powerful reminder of Michelle Trachtenberg’s impact—not just on screen, but on the lives of those who knew and loved her. “May her work and her huge heart be remembered,” Lively added—and it’s clear that in the hearts of her friends, fans, and co-stars, Michelle’s fire will never go out.

ALSO READ: Nobody Wants This Star Adam Brody Recalls His First Meeting With Leighton Meester: ‘I Was Smitten Instantly’