Blake Lively just took a break from being effortlessly stunning to pay tribute to her late Gossip Girl co-star Michelle Trachtenberg, and let’s just say—grab some tissues and a snack, because you’re about to get emotional (and a little hungry).
For those of you who somehow missed the greatest show about rich, overly dramatic teenagers in New York, Blake and Michelle played Serena van der Woodsen (the queen of dramatic exits) and Georgina Sparks (the queen of chaotic evil) from 2007 to 2012. Basically, their characters either ruined or saved each other’s lives weekly—there was no in-between.
Sadly, Michelle passed away this week in NYC, leaving Blake—and all of us—reeling. So, in true Blake fashion, she took to Instagram to share some heartfelt words that somehow made grief smell like caramel lip gloss.
“This is the first day I met Michelle,” Blake wrote, sharing a throwback photo from Gossip Girl. “She was electricity. Like, if you plugged in your phone near her, you’d probably get 200% battery in five minutes.”
According to Blake, Michelle never did anything halfway—whether it was laughing at jokes (even the bad ones), standing up to authority (we stan a rebel), or just existing as a powerhouse of loyalty and kindness. Oh, and she always smelled like caramel. Always. Because why just act in a show when you can also provide a full sensory experience?
“She was big and bold and distinctly herself,” Blake continued. “And she always had yummy caramel-smelling lip gloss on because she didn’t just want to sparkle on camera—she wanted to make sure everyone around her was living in a delightful, dessert-scented paradise.”
Blake wrapped up her tribute with a gut-punch of wisdom: “Time passes. You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. The real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday.” (Seriously, has anyone checked if Blake Lively moonlights as a poet?)
So, let this be a reminder: Hug your friends. Tell them you love them. Borrow their lip gloss. Because the world lost a truly good soul in Michelle, and if there’s one thing she taught us, it’s that life is too short not to smell like a literal snack.
