Exclusive Insider Revelation: Shocking Behind-the-Scenes Drama Behind Gossip Girl Star's Sudden Departure!
Unveiling the untold story behind Jenny Humphrey's sudden departure from the iconic hit show Gossip Girl Delve into the intriguing reasons that led to her exit, unraveling the mysteries surrounding her departure and the lasting impact on the show's legacy
Summary
Taylor Momsen, the actress who played Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl, left the show after season 5 to pursue her music career with her rock band The Pretty Reckless.
Momsen's decision prompted the show's team to write her character out, granting her the opportunity to pursue her touring aspirations. The original Gossip Girl series enjoyed a prosperous stint and left a lasting impression, leading to a recent reboot in 2021. Sadly, this revival was short-lived, as it was eventually discontinued after two seasons.
Taylor Momsen, known for her role as the teenage fashion designer on Gossip Girl, recently opened up about her departure from the show after season 5. Gossip Girl first aired in 2007 on The CW and follows a group of affluent students navigating high school alongside the influence of an anonymous gossip blogger. Penn Badgley and Momsen, playing Dan and Jenny Humphrey, joined the star-studded cast, including Blake Lively. Momsen, who was just 14 when the show premiered, was the youngest cast member. During an episode of the podcast Podcrushed, hosted by Badgley, Momsen revealed that as she grew older, she came to realize that she didn't have to pursue the acting career she was thrust into at the age of two.
Instead, she had the option to continue her involvement in The Pretty Reckless rock band, which she founded two years after the premiere of Gossip Girl. While facing certain challenges related to her Gossip Girl contract, Momsen acknowledged that the show's team was generally accommodating and agreed to write her character out of the series. Please read Momsen's complete statement below:
“Literally, once I reached a point where I had the freedom to make my own choices, it was like a revelation. I woke up one morning and realized, 'Why am I obligated to do this? Why do I need to pursue another job? Can't I just focus on playing in my band, going on tour, and writing songs?' Of course, it was more complex to extricate myself from a television show, but the answer was ultimately yes."
Gossip Girl's Continued Legacy
They said, "We cannot release you from your contract, but we can eliminate your character from the show so that you can embark on your tour." Their support in enabling me to pursue my aspirations fills me with eternal gratitude and appreciation.
Following Momsen's departure in season 5, the show continued for another season, concluding in 2012 as its stars moved on to other significant projects. A notable example is Badgley, who currently stars in Netflix's psychological thriller You and is set to make his final appearance as Joe Goldberg in season 5 of You. However, the true testament to the original Gossip Girl's success is the HBO reboot, which premiered nine years after the series finale.
Despite the return of Momsen or another original cast member in the reboot, the 2021 Gossip Girl series garnered significant viewership for HBO Max. Following the concept of the CW show, the story takes place a decade after Gossip Girl's demise, with a new anonymous gossiper using an Instagram account.
Although the reboot's premiere brought a surge in viewers to HBO Max, it couldn't replicate the success of the original and was ultimately cancelled in 2023 after two seasons. Perhaps finding a dynamic that could rival the Humphrey siblings was a difficult task. Nonetheless, both the original Gossip Girl and its reboot are still available for streaming on Max.
Source: Podcrushed
