Taylor Momsen Reflects on Her ‘Complicated’ Choice to Leave ‘Gossip Girl’: ‘It Was Like a Light Bulb Went Off’

Taylor Momsen reflects on her decision to leave Gossip girl.

On the latest episode of her former co-star Penn Badgley’s SiriusXM podcast detailed, Momsen, who played Jenny Humphrey in gossip girl, reflected in her choice to leave the CW series during its third season.

“It was a childhood thing that I got involved in at the age of two. I didn’t make my own choices back then,” she said of her acting career in an interview that was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike. “Literally, as soon as I got to the age where I could make my own decisions, it was like a click… I woke up one morning and said, ‘Wait a minute. I don’t have to do that? I don’t have to do this second job? Can I just play in my band and tour and write songs? Can I just do it?’”

Taylor Momsen on location for “Gossip Girl” on September 30, 2008.

Bobby Bank/WireImage

Taylor Momsen says she was ‘made fun of relentlessly’ as a kid for ‘Grinch’ role: ‘It was alienating’

She continued, “However, [it was] it’s a little more complicated to get off a television show than that, but the answer was yes. Like, you can do it. I have the ability to create my life the way I want to live it. … It was like a light bulb went off.”

Momsen (30) also recalled how the producers reacted after learning of her desire to continue her music career.

“I uprooted and changed my life overnight,” she explained. “[Production] said, ‘Well, we can’t let you out of your deal, but we can get you out of the show, so you can go on tour. But you can’t act in anything else.’”

Penn Badgley and Taylor Momsen in ‘Gossip Girl’.

Cw Network/Kobal/Shutterstock

Taylor Momsen on the world tour, why her dad is her ‘biggest fan’ – who she keeps in touch with from ‘Gossip Girl’

She shared that she was “fine” with the show’s producers’ deal, adding, “They really let me follow my dream and I’m forever grateful.”

After going out Gossip girl in season three, The Pretty Reckless frontwoman later returned for the season 4 episode “Easy J” and for a brief cameo in the 2012 series finale.

The interview marked the first time Momsen had reunited with Badgley, 36, since the show’s last episode more than a decade ago. However, Badgley defended Momsen against rumors about her off-screen behavior, saying Hollywood life 2010 that “teenagers go through what they’re going to go through.”

Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Taylor Momsen, Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester. For editorial purposes only. No use of book cover. Mandatory credit: Photo by Andrew Eccles/Cw Network/Kobal/Shutterstock; Inset: The CW’s ‘Gossip Girl’ Reunion! Penn Badgley teases meeting TV sister Taylor Momsen for his podcast

“It just so happens that she’s in the spotlight and I think that’s unfortunate because everyone should be allowed to make their own mistakes,” he said at the time. “I think she’s like 17. Give her time. She’s a really sweet girl, very smart, very talented. She’s just growing.”

Badgley told Momsen he has fond memories of working with her on the teen drama series, which ran for six seasons from 2007 to 2012.

“I just remember that our scenes were really nice because there was a real family atmosphere,” he shared Crushed. “Especially as a father now — I have a 14-year-old and a 2-and-a-half-year-old — so, like, [Taylor’s] the presence brought what I get now as a father … which is when you bring the kids, it just brings something very positive to the space.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

New episodes Crushed arrive Wednesdays on SiriusXM and other podcast streaming platforms. All six seasons Gossip girl are available for streaming on Max.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education