What happened between Leighton Meester and Blake Lively? The rumours explained
The relationship between Leighton Meester and Blake Lively, stars of Gossip Girl, has sparked many rumours over the years. While their characters were best friends on screen, rumours have it that they were not as close off-screen. This has led to speculation about tension between the two actresses.

Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Leighton Meester plays Blair Waldorf, while Blake Lively portrays Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl.
- Blake Lively and Leighton Meester’s characters on Gossip Girl were best friends, but they had a complicated relationship in real life.
- The actresses were rumoured to be feuding behind the scenes.
- Blake and Leighton do not follow each other on social media.
Profile summary
Full name | Leighton Meester | Blake Ellender Brown |
Gender | Female | Female |
Date of birth | 9 April 1986 | 25 August 1987 |
Age | 39 years old (as of 2025) | 37 years old (as of May 2025) |
Place of birth | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | Tarzana, Los Angeles, California, United States |
Current residence | Los Angeles, United States | New York, United States |
Nationality | American | American |
Ethnicity | Mixed | Mixed |
Sexuality | Straight | Straight |
Religion | Christianity | Christianity |
Height in inches | 5'5'' | 5'10'' |
Height in centimetres | 165 | 178 |
Weight in pounds | 120 | 130 |
Weight in kilograms | 54 | 59 |
Hair colour | Dark brown | Blonde |
Eye colour | Hazel | Blue |
Father | Douglas Meester | Ernie Lively |
Mother | Constance Meester | Elaine Lively |
Siblings | Lex, Douglas | Robyn, Lori, Eric, Jason |
Marital status | Married | Married |
Spouse | Adam Brody | Ryan Reynolds |
Education | Hollywood High School, Beverly Hills High School | Burbank High School, Brighton Hall School |
Profession | Actress, singer, model | Actress |
Net worth | $16 million | $30 million |
Social media | Instagram, Facebook | Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook |
What happened between Leighton Meester and Blake Lively?
The relationship between Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, stars of Gossip Girl, has been a topic of intrigue for fans due to the contrast between their onscreen friendship and off-screen interactions. Below is a closer look at what happened and the truth behind the rumours.

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Leighton Meester and Blake Lively's onscreen vs. off-screen relationship
While their characters, Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf, were portrayed as best friends, the actresses' real-life relationship was less.
Executive producer Joshua Safran revealed the truth about Blake and Leighton’s friendship during a 2017 profile with Vanity Fair. He stated:
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.
Josh credited Blake and Leighton’s very different personalities because they did not click as best friends off-screen.
Blake is very much in the moment. Blake knows what’s happening. She knows this movie’s coming out, this band is 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?’
He added:
Leighton was very removed and very quiet, and, after the scenes were done, she would wander the stage. I had this image of her just in these gorgeous dresses with a book in her hand, sort of a little bit out of focus out in the corners.
Reports from 2008 suggested that the famous actresses "avoided each other like the plague" on set, leading to tensions among the cast and crew, who reportedly had to "choose sides". Additionally, rumours circulated about jealousy over wardrobe budgets and perceived egos, though these claims were never confirmed.

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Denying drama and staying professional
Both Blake and Leighton have publicly denied any animosity. In a 2008 interview with New York Magazine, Leighton denied feud rumours, suggesting that such speculation was often directed at female co-stars.
I was just reading something about, like, how Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson didn’t get along [on the set of The Other Boleyn Girl]. Why don’t they say that George Clooney and Brad Pitt don’t get along? It’s always the girls.
On 10 August 2009, co-star Chace Crawford addressed Leighton Meester and Blake Lively's feud rumours via Interview magazine. She emphasised that the cast's interactions were friendly and not as dramatic as portrayed by the media.
In the 2017 Vanity Fair profile, Blake admitted that this kind of scrutiny made her hesitant to sign on for Gossip Girl after she was chosen to play Serena.
I’m actually a very shy person, and the idea of losing my anonymity was one that was scary to me. I remember saying when I read this script, ‘Whoever does this will not be able to walk out of their house ever again and be the same as before they started this.’ You could tell it was a cultural phenomenon. That was both exciting and thrilling, but also scary.

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Are Leighton and Blake still friends?
There is no public indication of a close friendship between the blonde actress and Leighton. They do not follow each other on social media, and have not made any public appearances together since the show ended. However, in 2019, Blake shared a throwback photo with Leighton from their time presenting at the Emmy Awards, suggesting a friendly relationship.
FAQs
- Who is Leighton Meester? She is an American actress, singer, and model, best known for her role as Blair Waldorf on the television series Gossip Girl.
- Who is Blake Lively? Blake is an American actress born on 25 August 1987, in Los Angeles, California.
- What is Leighton Meester's age? The popular singer is 39 years old as of 2025. She was born on 9 April 1986 in Fort Worth, Texas, United States.
- What happened between Leighton Meester and Blake Lively? Rumours of tension and jealousy between Leighton Meester and Blake Lively surfaced during the filming of Gossip Girl, but both denied any serious feud.
- Did Leighton Meester and Blake Lively get along in real life? The actresses were allegedly not close friends off-screen during their time on Gossip Girl.
- Was Leighton Meester at Blake Lively's wedding? Leighton Meester did not attend Blake Lively's wedding to Ryan Reynolds in 2012.
- Why don't Blake and Leighton follow each other? The Gossip Girl actresses do not follow each other on social media, reflecting their lack of a close off-screen relationship.
While Blake Lively and Leighton Meester may not have been close friends off-screen, there is insufficient evidence of a significant feud between them, and neither of them openly confirmed any bad blood.
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