While Blake Lively and Leighton Meester’s onscreen chemistry as besties in the hit show Gossip Girls was undeniable, when the cameras weren’t rolling, things were less congenial between them. Although Lively claimed she was nothing like her onscreen counterpart as she listed her problems with the character of Serena, there were reports of the actress throwing childish tantrums on sets.
Things escalated after one source claimed there was supposedly bad blood between Meester and Lively, as they allegedly maintained distance on set. While it can’t be said for sure if there is any truth to these claims, it was made clear that Lively and Meester didn’t become close friends despite years of working together.
Gossip Girls Producer Set the Record Straight About Blake Lively and Leighton Meester
From tabloids labeling her as an egomaniac to sources claiming she was allegedly unhappy with her costar’s wardrobe upgrade, Lively found herself under heavy media scrutiny at the time. Years later after the show ended, executive producer Joshua Safran finally set the records straight. Safran explained while Blake Lively and Leighton Meester weren’t quite besties like Serena and Blair, but they were still friendly to each other despite having different personalities. He told Vanity Fair:
“Blake and Leighton were not friends. They were friendly, but they were not friends like Serena and Blair. Yet the second they’d be on set together, it’s as if they were.”
Although the two haven’t been sighted together publically since the show ended, this doesn’t imply that there is some sort of animosity between the Gossip Girls stars. Furthermore, in 2019, Lively shared a photo of them together on Instagram, taking fans back in the memory lane, which showcased the actor still bears fond memories of Meester from their time on the show.
Blake Lively’s Actions as Serena Didn’t Align With Her Personal Beliefs
While the role of Serena van der Woodsen did earn Blake Lively stardom, she did have her concerns playing the character, as Serena’s actions onscreen didn’t align with her beliefs. Moreover, she shared concern over its impact on impressionable teens, who struggled to differentiate between Lively and her onscreen persona. She told E! News:
“The lines become blurred. It doesn’t help when everybody is dating who they’re dating on the show, and you’re also saying to the costume designer, ‘Hey, can I take that home?’ It’s a weird thing when people feel like they know you really well, and they don’t.”
Even though Serena wasn’t the most morally upright person, she was a great character nonetheless, who was undeniably glamorous, and her bond with Blair Waldorf remains iconic.
Gossip Girls is available to stream on Max.
