Sarah Michelle Gellar Honors Co-Star Michelle Trachtenberg With Line From 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'

Sarah Michelle Gellar took a walk down memory lane in honor of her late friend, Michelle Trachtenberg.

The actress borrowed a quote from the viral TV series, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," to bid farewell to her late friend on her social media account today.

Sarah Michelle Gellar has now joined a number of Michelle Trachtenberg co-stars over the years to pay her their respects.

The TV star took to Instagram to express her thoughts on the passing of Trachtenberg and celebrate her life. She uploaded a collection of pictures of herself and the late star through the years and on the set of their hit series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

The first slide featured an image of them sharing an intimate moment as Trachtenberg leaned on Gellar's shoulders. Gellar accompanied the post with a soulful caption culled from a line said in the finale of the show's fifth season, which read:

"Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live... for you."

"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" follows Buffy Summers, a high school student who is the chosen warrior, or "Slayer," destined to fight vampires, demons, and other supernatural threats.

With the help of her friends, known as the Scooby Gang, and her mentor, Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Buffy fights the challenges of both adolescence and the constant battle against evil.

Gellar's post has gathered thousands of likes, comments, and even shares since it went up on Gellar's Instagram page.

Since the heart-shattering news of her passing at the age of 39 on February 26 became public, The Blast shared that the reactions have surfaced in dozens.

In a heartfelt statement, the comedian and her former co-star, O'Donnell, conveyed her deep affection for Trachtenberg, reflecting on the difficulties she encountered in recent years.

O'Donnell recalled their connection, particularly from their time together in the 1996 film "Harriet the Spy." The project marked Trachtenberg's debut in big-screen acting when she was just 10 years old. 

O'Donnell expressed her wish to have been able to help Trachtenberg during her challenges, stating: "I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped."

Cameron, one of the cast members, shared her reflections on working alongside the late actress in "Harriet the Spy," where the actress portrayed Harriet's mother, Mrs. Welch. She recalled that Trachtenberg had a notable presence in the film, highlighting her contributions to the project. 

Despite her previous appearance on the Nickelodeon show "Adventures of Pete & Pete," her role in the nearly three-decade-old movie marked her first leading film appearance, and she was filled with excitement. 

Cameron fondly recalled the late actress's vibrant spirit, especially as she faced the challenges of her new role. 

Years later, they had a brief reconnection on social media, where Cameron was reminded of the actress's warmth and charm. However, the news of Trachtenberg's passing left her in a wild state of shock.

Four years ago, Trachtenberg made serious allegations against Joss Whedon, the creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." She revealed that during the show's production, there was a specific rule in place that prohibited him from being alone with her on set.

Trachtenberg shared this information in an Instagram post, stating clearly that Whedon was not allowed to be in a room alone with her again. She remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind this rule or who had enforced it.

Her statements came in the wake of accusations from her former co-star Charisma Carpenter, who described Whedon's behavior as "toxic" and "hostile."

Carpenter claimed that Whedon made negative remarks about her weight gain during pregnancy and exhibited overbearing conduct on set, which caused her significant emotional and physical distress.

Gellar also joined in the protest by publicly distancing herself from Whedon, expressing her support for abuse survivors. In light of the actions of her co-stars, Trachtenberg mentioned feeling "brave enough" to share her own experiences related to the troubling actions of Whedon.

Like the late actress, Gellar also shared some of her experiences in 2023. The Blast shared, however, that the actress chose not to go too deeply into the situation's specifics.

While she acknowledged having reached a point where discussing the events became easier, she made it clear that she would never reveal her complete story, emphasizing that there was nothing to gain from doing so. "I've said all I'm going to say because nobody wins. Everybody loses," she emphasized.

She hoped that the controversies surrounding Whedon's alleged actions would not tarnish the legacy of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Proud of her work and that of her castmates, Gellar reaffirmed her lasting pride in the impactful series they created together.

May Michelle Trachtenberg's soul continue to rest in peace!