'Gossip Girl' Star Michelle Trachtenberg Passed Away At Age 39

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In heartbreaking news, actress Michelle Trachtenberg passed away at age 39. According to PEOPLE, the Gossip Girl and Buffy star was declared deceased on February 26, 2025 by EMS. The NYPD told PEOPLE that "criminality is not suspected," however there was no public cause of death announced. Here's what we know about the tragic events.

Everything we know about Michelle Trachtenberg's devastating death:

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On February 26, 2025, sources told the New York Post that Michelle Trachtenberg's mother found her at 1 Columbus Place at around 8:00am. PEOPLEnoted that police received a 911 call at around 8:00am, and made their way to the residential building in NYC. The NYPD said that police found Michelle (described as the "39-year-old female") to be "unconscious and unresponsive." Once EMS arrived and assessed the situation, they officially pronounced her dead at the scene.

The New York City Medical Examiner has yet to determine — or at least announce — Michelle's cause of death. According to the New York Post , the Ice Princess actress recently had a liver transplant, and sources told them she died of "natural causes." ABC News also noted that the death could be due to post-transplant complications.

NBC reported that Michelle's representative said, "It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time."

Michelle is best known for starring in roles such as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl, as well as Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Other notable roles included Harriet (Harriet the Spy), Maggie (17 Again), Casey Carlyle (Ice Princess), and Jenny (Eurotrip).

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Former Gossip Girlcostar, Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass) posted his condolences for Michelle's passing. He wrote on Instagram, "So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg. Sending prayers 🙏🤍"

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, Gossip Girlco-creators, shared a joint statement about Michelle. "We are deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing. Michelle was so funny, kind, and talented," they said. "Her portrayal of Georgina Sparks was an iconic fan favorite, and grew from a one season villain to a beloved character who returned over the course of six seasons. She was a delight to have on set and will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with her family."

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Chace Crawford (Nate Archibald, Gossip Girl) posted a moving tribute to Michelle on Instagram, too. He shared three snaps with his former costar, and captioned the post with, "Michelle was one of a kind. 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. Love you ❤️"

Gossip Girl matriarch, Kelly Rutherford (Lily van der Woodsen) also shared an image of Michelle on her Instagram story. She captioned the post with "🤍🤍🤍🕊️"

And Taylor Momsen, the ever-iconic Jenny Humphrey, shared another photo of Michelle to her Instagram story as well. She wrote on the post, "One of a kind 💔"

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Michelle's former Buffy costars also shared their sympathies for the star's death. James Marsters (Spike) told PEOPLE, "My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul. Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her."

Alyson Hannigan posted a slideshow of photos on Instagram, sharing pictures with Michelle from over the years. She wrote, "I am deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing. She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends."

20th Century Fox released a statement saying, "Michelle touched a generation of television fans throughout her career, including in her unforgettable role as the independent and strong-willed Dawn Summers in Buffy." (via NBC) Meanwhile, David Boreanaz (Angel) wrote on his Instagram story, "So very sad …horrible news. RIP and prayers to her and her family."

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Sex and the Citystar, Kim Cattrall shared her own message on Instagram. She posted a photo of the two of them, with the caption reading, "Rest in peace sweet Michelle 💔" Kim played Michelle's skating coach in the Disney film, Ice Princess.

Rosie O'Donnell — who starred alongside Michelle in Harriet the Spy — told Us Weeklythat this is "heartbreaking." She said, "I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped."

Michelle's Holiday for Love costar, Melissa Gilbert posted on Instagram as well. She shared a still from the movie and wrote,"Oh Michy…and we lived so close to one another…..my heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so… @michelletrachtenberg#ripsweetgirl"

Leslie Mann, Michelle's 17 Again costar, posted an image with she and Michelle to her Instagram story. She shared, "I will miss you, Michelle ❤️"

And SNL star Kenan Thompson wrote on Instagram, "Our first Nick movie star has departed us!! She was my friend and now she rests!! 🙏🏾 Check on your people!!! ❤️"

This story is still unfolding, but our hearts go out to her family, friends, and fans.

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This post has been updated with new information.

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) have always been a dramatic duo, but they're taking the drama to new heights right now: they're breaking up, according to TMZ. The Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker BFFs announced they were expecting their first child together, making this all way more complicated than a simple split. And Megan Fox just gave birth to their sweet new baby.

Here's everything to know about Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox's baby— & their breakup.

Did Megan Fox have her baby?

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Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly may not be together, but they have a lot to celebrate now that their daughter made her grand debut! Machine Gun Kelly eagerly announced her arrival on Instagramby sharing a small black and white video of him holding her toes.

No matter where he and Megan stand, the rapper made it clear he's excited their daughter was born safe and sound. The sweetest part of his caption is him calling the newborn a "little celestial seed."

He also explained that Travis Barker helped welcome their daughter through music, adding, "We composed the score of the birth. What an epic journey. Praise God."

We also love positive the comments on the announcement post are! Even MTV couldn't resist commenting by writing, "congratulations ♥️."

And get this, Megan's birth was aided by music. "We composed the score of the birth. What an epic journey. Praise God," Kelly told E! News. If you're wondering whose music they were listening to, it's none other than Travis Barker!

Did Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox break up?

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TMZ reported Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly broke up on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. The pair allegedly split on Thanksgiving weekend in Vail, Colorado given "upsetting material" Megan found on MGK's phone. Apparently they haven't been together since the breakup, with MGK going as far as to leave their trip early.

Megan announced she was pregnant on Instagram a month before they allegedly broke up, on November 11, 2024. According to PEOPLE, MGK was "basically telling everyone he knows" about the baby, and that the pair is "doing well" in general. Now, it seems like the tables have really turned in the latter regard.

However, an exclusive source told PEOPLE, "Their relationship has always been bumpy. They love each other but don't have compatible personalities." The source explained that Megan and MGK are "both hot-heads, dramatic and stubborn," noting that they've "worked things out" when they broke up in the past. "When they're good together, they're great," they said. "They will very likely get back together."

PEOPLE reported that Megan and MGK announced their engagement on Instagram on January 12, 2022. However, the Jennifer's Body star only features her pregnancy announcement on Instagram now — and while MGK doesn't have a post on his grid either, you can still see his video of her engagement ring here!

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This post has been updated.

It's almost time to return to Cousins! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is coming this summer, and Prime Video just gave us a first official look at Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad. The new episodes will open at the end of Belly's freshman year of college, and in addition to seeing the evolution of our favorite characters, author and co-showrunner Jenny Han says "there are going to be surprises" in the final season. Eek!

Here's your first look at Lola Tung, Gavin Casalegno, and Christopher Briney in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, coming to Prime Video July 2025!


Jenny Han says 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' fans are in for a few surprises.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

"There are the things that [fans] know and then there are things they think they know, and then there's going to be, hopefully, things that surprise them," Jenny Han tells Entertainment Weekly. Listen, I am a very proud member of Team Conrad, and seeing how cozy Belly and Jeremiah are in these pics (not to mention the set leak that's definitely not in the third book), I'm starting to wonder if Prime Video is teasing I should switch teams.

But no matter which team you're on, Lola Tung promises the season won't let you down.

Team #JellyFish will get their time this season.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

"The one thing I've always admired about Jenny is that every season and every decision about what's coming next is purely to serve the story," Lola says. "She's never going to do anything that doesn't make sense for the story. It's all about this beautiful world she's created and giving the fans something really, really special and giving us something really special to work with."

And that includes some sweet moments which Jeremiah and Belly, who "are, at their core, best friends," Lola adds. "That relationship is something that's so special and so unique to them, so it's exciting to see this season and how their relationship blossoms."

And 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' images also feature Conrad.

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But don't worry Conrad fans, we also get a look at the elder Fisher brother who "we know that he went to Stanford, and so he's continuing on his journey to become a doctor, as you can see from that white coat," Jenny says. "I think people won't be surprised to see that."

Keep reading for more images from The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3!

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Jenny Han also teases this image is actually a flashback, "so do with that what you will." BRB, I'm off dreaming of a beach vacation. I also can't help but point out the warm color grade of this season! The golden look makes everything feel warmer and more magical — and offers a youthful glow as Belly gets older.

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But for those of us who care more about Steven and Taylor (Sean Kaufman and Rain Spencer) than the main love triangle, we got this single crumb from the new images. And I'm more than happy about it, thank you very much.

Erika Doss/Prime Video

Belly (Lola Tung) gets cozy on campus in a hoodie and sunglasses.

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And Belly and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) get cozy with each other at a party.

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But they work as hard as they play! I have this exact outfit Belly's wearing, and you best believe I'm adding it into my fashion rotation.

How many episodes will The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 have?

Erika Doss/Prime Video

Great news! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 will have 11 episodes instead of 7 or 8 like seasons 1 and 2 did. Stay tuned for the official release schedule.

Who's in the cast?

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The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 cast features all your favorites:

  • Lola Tung as Belly Conklin: a beach-loving volleyball player who's always dreaming of summer.
  • Christopher Briney as Conrad Fisher: Belly and Steven's lifelong friend who Belly's always had a crush on.
  • Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah Fisher: Conrad's sunny younger brother.
  • Sean Kaufman as Steven Conklin: Belly's older brother.
  • Rain Spencer as Taylor Jewel: Belly's best friend.
  • Jackie Chungas Laurel Park: Belly and Steven's mom and Susannah Fisher's best friend.

Meet The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Cast before the new episodes air on Prime Video this July!

Jennifer Aniston and Pedro Pascal fans are in a frenzy over a possible budding romance between the A-list singles. The rumors were sparked after the pair reportedly spent three hours on a dinner date together.

This past Saturday, Jennifer and Pedro were seen leaving the Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel, located in West Hollywood, California. The former Friends star and Gladiator II actor were both rocking leather as they spoke by the valet area. Jennifer wore cuffed pants, a white T-shirt, a leather vest, and boots; meanwhile, Pedro looked cool in jeans, a leather jacket, and loafers.

But was it actually a date? Here's what we know!

Scroll to find out what's really going on with Jennifer Aniston & Pedro Pascal...

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Photos of the celebs together prompted many social media users to share their approval of a potential partnership. Others pointed out how Pedro could just be appearing on The Morning Show, an Apple TV+ drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

That's because, during the 2024 Critics' Choice Awards, Reese and Pedro discussed the show on the red carpet in a clip that's since resurfaced on X. She told the actor that a "really good part" was open for him on The Morning Show, and he replied, "Pitch it to me now. I'm in. I'll be waiting to hear from my agents. Draw it up. Send me a script. Or just pitch it to me in the room."

As Pedro responded to Reese, Jennifer held Pedro's hand, looked at the camera, and mouthed, "Oh my god." It seems that, just like fans around the globe, even Jennifer is endeared by the Chilean-born actor.

Nonetheless, if it was unclear whether her and Pedro's three-hour dinner date was for business or pleasure, a source told Page Six, "“There is no romance going on between Jennifer Aniston and Pedro Pascal. They respect each other as artists but it’s strictly platonic and they’re not dating.”

So I guess that answers that!

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Jennifer, who is now 56 years old, has previously been married twice. She first tied the knot with Brad Pitt in 2000, and they announced their separation five years later on January 7, 2005. Then, she got married to Justin Theroux in 2015, but they separated in February 2018.

Pedro, on the other hand, has never been married and prefers to keep his romantic endeavors more private. Nonetheless, he reportedly dated Maria Dizzia for a decade and has been linked to other celebrities, including Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey and Robin Tunney, who's most well-known for her role on the show The Mentalist.

Jennifer and Reese's drama series, The Morning Show, debuted on November 1, 2019, and has since had three successful seasons. The project has been so well-received, in fact, that it's earned over 50 award nominations and received an early renewal for a fourth season in April 2023, before Season 3 even debuted.

Still, fans will just have to wait and see if Pedro, beloved for his performances in The Last of Us, Gladiator II, The Mandalorian, and Game of Thrones, will be joining Jennifer on-screen in future episodes of The Morning Show, or otherwise!

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1923 season 2 premieres on Paramount+ February 23, and Michelle Randolph (who plays Elizabeth Dutton in the cast) is "so excited" for you to watch the new episodes — and she's been keeping up with all your fan theories!

"There are some crazy ones. I feel like the biggest fan theory thing is the family tree," she tells Brit + Co exclusively. "I've seen many different family trees and so it's like, 'OK, which one's accurate?' I actually drew my own at one point."

Here's what Michelle Randolph had to say about 1923 season 2, and the Dutton family tree, in Brit + Co's exclusive 1923 interview.

Michelle Randolph teases '1923' season 2 finally gives us answers to the Dutton family tree.

By the end of season 2, Michelle Randolph says "we might be able to fill in some blanks" in the Dutton family tree, which is a very hot topic for internet users! "I had to make my own [family tree] because all of the ones I saw on the internet were like — every single one was different. I was like 'I'm confused.'"

The Dutton family is made up of incredible cast members like Brandon Sklenar, Harrison Ford, and Helen Mirren, and Michelle reveals that the cast are just as close as their characters.

"There's a giant group chat called Giddy Up, which started during cowboy camp of season one," she says. "A cute little name, and I think I mean we all were on location in Montana and all in the same hotel, and we would get dinners after [filming], so I think even though our characters are very different and in different story lines like we all really did bond, which was really helpful to have each other throughout the chaos of of shooting a show."

The actress also says Elizabeth would connect with her 'Landman' character Ainsley.

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And if you're a tried and true Taylor Sheridan fan, you've probably picked up on the fact that Michelle isn't just in 1923 — she also has a starring role as Ainsley Norris in Landman! But would Elizabeth and Ainsley get along if they met in an alternate universe?

"That would be a fun thing to witness. I think they would," she says. "They're very different, but the similarities between them is they're both young women who are finding their place in this world and I think that they both actually look at the world through very bright eyes and have a lot of hope, which is an interesting correlation between the two of them. I think Elizabeth has gone through so much more than Ainsley obviously, so there might be a difference there, but I think they would get along."

Check out the 8 Compelling Historical Fiction Books For 1923 Lovers and read our interview with Julia Schlaepfer where she teases the Spencer and Alex's future.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. And this post has been updated.

Leaders in the matcha industry are predicting a matcha shortage this spring. Sparked by a huge surge in demand, it’s possible that your go-to drink could be affected.

Here’s everything you need to know about this season’s matcha shortage.

Nataliya Vaitkevich / PEXELS

Per The Japan Times, increased demand for matcha powder put an “unprecedented strain” on the tea industry last year, and the same effect is predicted to take place in 2025.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan saw a 185% increase in matcha production from 2010 to 2023 in order to keep up with demand from cafes and home baristas around the world, The Japan Timesreports.

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Seeing that over half of Japan’s matcha is exported internationally, matcha lovers are looking toward the country for their green tea fix. Search interest for matcha has nearly quadrupled over the past 5 years, and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Olena Bohovyk / PEXELS

This year, mostly organic matcha strains will be affected by the shortage, though lower-grade varieties could face the same issues if consumers begin reaching for them in favor of organic offerings. While top-tier, organic strains like ceremonial-grade matcha are known for being sweeter and smoother, the lower-grade kinds like culinary-grade matcha are noticeably more bitter and don't have the same vibrant color.

Charlotte May / PEXELS

Matcha can only be harvested in the springtime, so though a shortage may be happening now, there’s hope for increased supply in the near future. This year’s harvest will start in April.

Polina Tankilevitch / PEXELS

Even though production will ramp up, Jason Eng of Kametani Tea in Japan, a company that produces matcha for beverage companies around the world, says: “This year will be an interesting one. We haven’t hit a point yet where we’re going to run out, but it’s going to be really tight this autumn – not just for us but for everybody. The demand is off the charts.”

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