Gossip Girl’s Chanel Maya Banks Got Out of ‘Bad Situation’ With Family

Chanel Banks Michael Loccisano/WireImage

Gossip Girl and Blue Bloods alum Chanel Maya Banks explained the circumstances of her alleged disappearance.

“I had to take myself out of a bad situation,” Banks, 36, told True Crime News in a teaser from her Monday, November 18, interview. “I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that. What transpired from that is what you are seeing in the media now, specifically from the people I’ve gotten away from.”

Banks’ mother and cousin recently reported the actress was missing, claiming that she had not been in contact with them since late October. They also alleged that Banks’ husband of one year, identified on her TikTok by “CJ” initials, refused to help their search.

“You’re seeing two people right now, my mother and my cousin, whom I have not spoken to for 10 years,” Banks claimed. “I spoke to her one time when she was with my mother on the phone, and that must have been three weeks ago very briefly. My mom gave her my cell phone and I think she sent me a text once, but this is not someone I have a relationship with.”

Banks’ cousin Danielle-Tori Singh had claimed in a series of social media messages earlier this week that the two women were best friends.

“We definitely don’t have a sister-sister relationship,” Banks asserted. “It wasn’t until most recently that I was successful in leaving and what’s transpired is exactly her reaction to not having that control.”

According to Banks, she left “exactly seven days ago.”

Chanel Banks Courtesy of Chanel Banks/Instagram

“I haven’t been missing for three weeks,” she claimed on Friday, previously telling the outlet that she left for a religious baptism with a local pastor. “I’m an adult woman. I don’t have to call my mother every day. Lately, in the past couple of months, I noted the leash was getting longer, so I took advantage of that and I kinda made preparations to head out.”

Banks further speculated to the outlet that her apparent plans to leave “really bamboozled” her mother.

“Every single time in the past I’ve tried to escape, she shows up to my house,” Banks claimed. “But, it’s not just that. First, it’s the phone calls [and] the cops will come after me so ardently — every single time. It’s always when you’re at the end of almost falling apart because people who’ve done things to you, abominable things, are in your face and now, they’re forcing everyone else to force you right back to them.”

Banks’ mother and cousin have not publicly responded to her accusations.