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Leighton Meester Reflects on ‘Gossip Girl’ Co-Star Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death

Leighton Meester shared her thoughts on the recent death of her ‘Gossip Girl’ co-star Michelle Trachtenberg in a new interview

Michelle Trachtenberg and Leighton Meester

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Leighton Meester has spoken out for the first time about the recent death of her Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg.

In a cover story for Flaunt, Meester remembered Trachtenberg, who played Georgina Sparks on the hit CW show. “It’s devastating,” she told the magazine. “She was a wonderful, talented person, and everyone loved her. It’s very, very sad for everyone who knew her.”

Trachtenberg died suddenly on Feb. 26 at age 39. Her cause of death was ruled as complications related to diabetes mellitus, according to New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The OCME ruled Trachtenberg’s death as natural and the cause was determined after a review of laboratory test results.

Several other members of the Gossip Girl cast have shared their memories of Trachtenberg. Following her death, Blake Lively shared a heartfelt tribute on social media remembering the actress’ kindness and dedication to her craft. “This is the first day I met Michelle,” Lively wrote on her Instagram story, alongside a photo of them on the Gossip Girl set. “She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed. Everything she did, she did 200%.”

Chace Crawford mourned the actress in an Instagram post. “Michelle was one of a kind,” said Crawford. “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.”

More recently, Penn Badgley remembered Trachtenberg at the season five premiere of his Netflix series You. “What I remember of her is she was incredibly quick to laugh,” he told E! News. “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.” He added, “It’s surreal. Really surreal, really saddening.”

From Rolling Stone US

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