Leighton Meester may seem like she has it all: a successful acting and music career,
a solid marriage with The O.C. star, Adam Brody and an adorable daughter.
But although she's well-known for her role as the affluent Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl,
Meester's real life has been far from picture-perfect.
From the time she was born, the actress has endured incredible hardship, even admitting
that her glittering Hollywood life has, at times, been a complete facade.
Here's the tragic real-life story of Leighton Meester.
Tough start
Meester was born in April 1986, while her mom, Constance, was living in a Texas halfway
house and serving a prison sentence for smuggling drugs from Jamaica into the U.S.
She and her mother lived in the halfway house for three months, according to Marie Claire.
Meester's grandmother then raised her until Constance was released sixteen months later.
But that wasn't the extent of the family's troubles with the law.
Meester's mom had reportedly been smuggling drugs in conjunction with Meester's dad, grandfather,
and aunt.
Everyone was busted, and Meester's aunt became the first woman placed on the U.S. Marshals'
15 Most Wanted after she escaped from prison.
Sticky fingers
By 2011, Meester had reportedly been sending her unemployed mother $7,500 a month to help
care for her little brother, Lex.
But, according to TMZ, instead of using the money on her brother, Meester accused her
mom of blowing the cash on...
"Plastic surgery, Botox, and hair extensions."
When Meester cut her mom off, the outlet reported her mother tried to convince Meester that
they had an oral contract requiring her to pay, quote "$10,000 a month for life."
Her mom also reportedly threatened to file a lawsuit against her daughter unless Meester
continued to pay.
But Meester fought back with a lawsuit of her own.
In June 2012, a judge ruled there was no existing contract, and told Meester she didn't have
to pay her mother another dime.
In the lawsuit against her mom, Radar Online reported Meester also asked for custody of
brother Lex, who had been experiencing serious health issues.
While it didn't appear Lex moved out from his mother's home at the time, Constance told
InTouch in 2014,
"I only have $26 left.
If something doesn't happen soon, we'll be homeless by the holidays."
But Meester's mom wasn't done.
Accusations of assault
After Meester filed the suit against her mom, Constance filed a $3 million countersuit to
get the money she felt Meester owed her.
But she also alleged that things had gotten physical between them during a heated argument.
According to ABC News, Constance accused Meester of repeatedly hitting "her with a bottle"
in December 2010, alleging things got so bad, Meester's brother had to pull them apart.
Constance finally dropped her countersuit in late 2011.
Moving forward
She may be a superstar, but given her tough family history, it's no surprise Meester sometimes
has her darker moments.
In October 2014, after performing at the Apple Store in New York City, she opened up about
her song, "L.A." Meester said the song reflected her life in her twenties, sharing,
"It's about living in L.A., and being like, 'Oh look, I'm an adult.
I have material things.
I have a home and friends and I'm a grown up!
But I'm just desperately lonely.'"
She described the song as being very "personal," and hoped that other people might be able
to relate to the "painful" times she lived through.
Here's hoping this talented star continues to rise, and shine.
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