Leighton Meester has finally opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg. In an emotional cover story for Flaunt magazine, Meester looked back on their shared past, the pain of losing someone so young, and the lasting impact Michelle made on everyone who knew her.
Speaking from the heart, Leighton revealed how deeply shaken she was by the news, especially since they were the same age. “It’s devastating,” she said. “Michelle was someone everyone loved—her energy, her honesty, her laugh. She was magnetic.”
Others who worked closely with Michelle have also paid touching tributes. Danny Tamberelli, her co-star from The Adventures of Pete & Pete, reminisced about their childhood days filled with laughter and playful mischief. “We grew up learning how to make people laugh,” he shared. “She was a master of the clothespin game… she once hid my bass cable on set just to get me to hang out with her at lunch. I got the message.”
Danny described her as “a bright light, a firecracker,” someone who used her voice to stand up for others. “Michelle was a role model, not just in show business but in life.”
Blake Lively, another Gossip Girl alum, took to Instagram to share her memories, calling Michelle “electric.” “You knew when she walked into a room because the energy shifted,” Blake wrote. “She was fiercely loyal, brave, bold, and unapologetically herself.”
Blake also recalled a sweet detail: Michelle’s “yummy caramel-smelling lip gloss,” which she wore to make everyone around her feel special.
As the entertainment world mourns this bright star, Leighton Meester’s reflections in Flaunt serve as a heartfelt reminder of the tremendous mark Michelle Trachtenberg left behind—not only through her acting but through the love she shared with those close to her. “May her work and her huge heart be remembered,” Blake added, and it’s clear that Michelle’s spirit continues to burn brightly in the hearts of friends, fans, and co-stars alike.
