Chanel Banks, best known for her role in Gossip Girl, has spoken out following her widely publicized disappearance and subsequent reappearance.
In an exclusive preview of her upcoming interview on True Crime News, Banks sheds light on her decision to leave Los Angeles for Texas, her family’s reaction, and the emotional turmoil that led to the situation.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed on Monday, November 11, that Banks had been located safely in Texas, three days after her family reported her missing. Despite assurances of her safety, the family continued to raise concerns, even holding a press conference on November 13 disputing that Banks had truly been found.
In her interview, Banks addresses the public and her family, stating that her decision to step away was deliberate and carefully planned. She dismisses claims of being missing for weeks, asserting, “I’ve only been gone for seven days. I’m an adult woman—I don’t have to call my mother every single day.”
The actress reveals that she had been preparing to distance herself from her family for some time, citing years of what she describes as a toxic relationship characterized by control and emotional strain.
“I started noticing the leash was getting longer,” she explains. “I took that as an opportunity to make my move. I made preparations to leave because I knew staying any longer wouldn’t be healthy for me. That decision wasn’t random—it was necessary.”
Banks claims her departure triggered an intense reaction from her family, particularly her mother. She accuses her family of refusing to respect her boundaries, recounting multiple attempts to distance herself over the years, only to be pulled back through what she describes as manipulation and force.
“She comes to my house unannounced. The calls never stop, and when I don’t respond, the police are brought into it. It’s relentless,” Banks shares. “Every time I’m close to breaking free, they find a way to drag me back. It’s overwhelming to have people who’ve hurt you so deeply forcing their way into your life over and over.”
The actress also responded to her family’s public efforts to locate her, including a GoFundMe campaign created by her cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, which was eventually taken down. Banks clarifies her relationship with Singh, stating, “We don’t have the close, sisterly bond that’s been implied. This isn’t someone I maintain a relationship with.”
In a statement released to the press, Banks also elaborates on the abuse she claims to have endured, both emotional and psychological, within her family dynamic. She accuses her mother of being unable to accept her independence, framing the recent events as a reaction to losing control over her life.
“This isn’t about me being missing—it’s about my mother not knowing how to cope with the fact that I’ve stepped away,” she asserts.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to get away, but I’m determined to make it the last,” she concludes. “I’m alive. I’m safe. And I just want to live my life on my terms.”
