Leighton Meester Reflects on Toxic Work Environments in "I Love LA"
Leighton Meester stars in the HBO series I Love LA as Alyssa, a stereotypical Los Angeles publicist and boss to Rachel Sennott's character, Maia. While her real-life experiences with publicists were not directly mirrored in the show, other elements resonated deeply with her.
Experiencing Toxic Workplaces
During an interview, Meester opened up about having worked in toxic environments. She described situations where bosses fail to support or uplift their employees, saying:
"I've been in toxic work environments. I think that a lot of people have experienced that, being around people who sort of... I don't know, just, like, you have a boss that maybe doesn't uplift you, or whatever."
Co-star Reaction and Insight
Josh Hutcherson, who also stars in the series, expressed surprise at Meester's admission. He asked, "In this industry, that's happened to you?" Meester responded, "It's shocking."
Finding Safety on Set
Meester appreciated the safe and comedic space that I Love LA provided to explore difficult work dynamics. She said the experience was “really fun to play with in a safe, comedic environment,” which allowed her to enjoy the role more fully.
Summary
Leighton Meester finds authenticity and safety portraying complex work relationships in I Love LA, reflecting on her past toxic work experiences with candor and relief.