The TV show Gossip Girl became a pop culture phenomenon, thanks in part to the compelling friendship between Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf, played by Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, respectively. Their on-screen chemistry made it easy to believe that the two were just as close in real life as their characters were. But was that really the case? With renewed interest in Gossip Girl as people revisit Blake Lively’s early work amidst the buzz around It Ends With Us, questions about Blake and Leighton's real-life dynamic have resurfaced. Let’s dive into what their off-screen relationship was really like.
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Were Blake and Leighton Actually Friends?
While Gossip Girl fans might want to believe that Blake and Leighton were just as inseparable off-camera, the reality is more nuanced. According to Joshua Safran, the show’s executive producer, the two stars were not close friends despite their convincing on-screen bond. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Safran revealed that while Blake and Leighton were “friendly,” they were not exactly best buds like Serena and Blair.
“Blake and Leighton were not friends,” Safran clarified. “They were friendly, but they were not friends like Serena and Blair.” He emphasized that there was no animosity between the two, but their personalities simply didn’t align in a way that fostered a deep friendship.
Different Personalities, Different Dynamics
One possible reason for their less-than-buddy-buddy relationship could be their differing personalities. Safran described Blake as very engaged and in-the-moment. “Blake knows what’s happening. You talk to Blake on a very contemporary level, and she would be like, ‘I’m doing this thing tonight. Have you been to this restaurant?’” On the other hand, he characterized Leighton as more reserved and introspective. “Leighton was very removed and very quiet,” he added, noting that she would often keep to herself on set.
This difference in temperament might explain why they didn’t develop a close friendship. It’s not uncommon for co-workers to get along well enough at work without forming lasting bonds outside of it, and that seems to be the case here.
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Rumors of Tension
While Safran’s account suggests a neutral, if distant, relationship, other reports have hinted at something more dramatic. In 2008, New York Magazine claimed that Blake and Leighton “avoided each other like the plague” and that their off-screen tension sometimes created a divide among the cast. However, there’s little evidence to back up these claims, and no clear incident has been reported that could explain a serious rift between them.
The more likely scenario is that they were simply co-workers who didn’t click on a personal level. Not everyone becomes friends with their colleagues, and that’s perfectly okay.
Social Media Silence
In today’s digital age, following someone on social media can be seen as a sign of friendship — or at least mutual respect. Interestingly, Blake and Leighton do not follow each other on any platforms, and there’s no indication that they’ve kept in touch since Gossip Girl wrapped. This doesn’t mean there was any bad blood between them, but it does support the idea that they were never particularly close.
Conclusion: Co-Stars, Not Besties
It’s tempting to hope that actors who play friends on TV are friends in real life, but that’s not always how it works out. For Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, their professional relationship was just that — professional. They did their jobs well and brought Serena and Blair’s friendship to life for millions of viewers, but once the cameras stopped rolling, they each went their separate ways.
Ultimately, there’s no rule that says you have to be friends with the people you work with, and it’s entirely possible to have a successful collaboration without forming a lasting bond. While Blake and Leighton might not be close today, they gave us one of TV’s most iconic duos, and that’s something Gossip Girl fans will always appreciate.
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