'Gossip Girl' Actress Chanel Banks Breaks Her Silence Following Family’s Missing Person Report

Chanel Banks, the actress known for her roles in "Gossip Girl" and "Blue Bloods," is addressing the recent controversy surrounding her reported disappearance.

The situation began when Banks’ family, including her mother and cousin, filed a missing person report with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Concerned after not hearing from the actress for several weeks, they reported her absence, leading police to conduct welfare checks at her Playa Vista apartment. When authorities found the apartment empty, fears escalated.

Despite the scare, Chanel Banks insists there was never a reason for concern.

Speaking to "True Crime News," Banks revealed that she was never actually missing, but rather taking time to remove herself from what she described as "a bad situation."

"I had to take myself out of a bad situation," she said. "I'm sure a lot of people can relate to that, and what transpired from that is what you are seeing in the media now, specifically from the people I've gotten away from."

According to Banks' cousin, two welfare checks were conducted on November 7, followed by two more on November 8. Despite these efforts, Banks was not found in her apartment.

As a result, she was officially classified as a missing person in California.

"On November 10 my aunt and I were able to get into the apartment and all of her belongings are still there," Banks' cousin added. "The only items we did not locate are her phone and laptop. She also does not go anywhere without her little dog, which also has been left behind. She also does not have her vehicle because it’s parked in her garage. She would NEVER go anywhere without telling her mom or myself."

However, Banks says otherwise. "I wasn’t missing," the "Gossip Girl" actress told "True Crime News" after she was found. "I noticed the leash was getting longer, so I took advantage of that, and I kind of made preparations to head out, so to speak."

She had previously attempted to leave, but each time, her mother intervened and prevented her from following through with her plans.

Authorities located Chanel Banks in Texas on November 13, where she confirmed her identity to law enforcement. Despite this, her family questioned whether it was truly her.

"True Crime News" also connected with Banks via FaceTime this week, during which she presented her license as further proof. Banks expressed her frustration, stating, "It wasn’t enough that the LAPD verified my identity. It wasn’t enough that the Texas law enforcement verified my identity. It wasn’t enough that there was a camera with me, speaking on it clear as a day, saying, 'Please leave me alone.' It wasn’t enough."

Banks also shared details about her distant relationship with her cousin, revealing that they haven’t had significant contact in over a decade.

According to Banks, the last time they spoke was "very briefly" about three weeks ago, when her cousin was with her mother. During that interaction, the cousin obtained Banks' phone number. "She sent me a text once," Banks explained, adding, "but this is not someone I have a relationship with. We definitely don't have a sister-sister relationship."

This contradicts statements made by Banks’ cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, who traveled from Toronto to aid in the search. Singh described herself as being very close to Banks and said that even a few days without communication or a way to reach Chanel caused significant alarm.

Authorities confirmed that the actress, who had not been reachable for nearly two weeks, is safe and uninjured. According to law enforcement, Banks was found in good health, and there is no suspicion of foul play.

Banks, known for her role as Sawyer Bennett in "Gossip Girl" and her appearance in "Blue Bloods," has garnered attention for her work in both television and film. Beyond her notable TV roles, she also had a minor role in the 2010 film "Twelve."