Taylor Momsen Says Gossip Girl Was Destroying Her

Taylor Momsen was put in front of cameras at just two years old, became Cindy Lou Who at seven, and by thirteen was starring in Gossip Girl as Jenny Humphrey. But behind the fame, Taylor says she never actually wanted the role and felt trapped in a lifestyle she hated. While filming exhausting 18-hour days on the show, she was secretly spending nights recording music with her band The Pretty Reckless, surviving on almost no sleep. As paparazzi and online hate intensified, Taylor says she reached a breaking point and desperately wanted out of her contract. Eventually, she left acting almost entirely to focus on music — the one thing she says she truly loved from the beginning.