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What a difference a decade makes.
On this date in 2010 — long before they’d involuntarily make a splash on a billboard now looming over Times Square — socialite Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner mingled with the Gossip Girl crowd at a party thrown by Kushner’s New York Observer.
In fact, the episode “Easy J” aired on the first wedding anniversary for the ascending power couple, who now serve as advisors to Ivanka’s father, President Donald Trump. (Watch a Business Insider featurette on their cameos above.)
Reflecting in September 2017 on the guest-casting, Gossip Girl co-creator Josh Schwartz told Vulture, “it would’ve been, ‘They’re on a list and they’re in town — reach out and see if they’re available,'” adding: “People wanted to be on the show. It was a crazy thing.”
“They are socialites in New York and they do fit the world of Gossip Girl,” EP Joshua Safran added. “I’m sure Lily van der Woodsen knows Trump and would have been on the board of charities with him or Melania. That’s the world of Gossip Girl, so to deny it would be wrong.”
In the same Vulture interview, Schwartz copped to at least one regret about the cameo — that Kushner didn’t get more to say in the Season 4 episode, seeing as it’d be nearly seven years before the world at large would hear (and in part mock) the businessman’s speaking voice. “We could’ve had a recorded video of his voice!” the EP lamented.
Ivanka Trump, however, had been no stranger to the on-screen spotlight, having served as a boardroom advisor on many episodes of Donald Trump’s The Apprentice.
“I never miss an episode of Gossip Girl,” Ivanka told InStyle at the time of her cameo. “I think I’m a cross between Blair Waldorf (played by Leighton Meester) and Lily van der Woodsen (Kelly Rutherford) when it comes to the style. I like the uptown city style and a clean-cut, streamlined silhouette.”
As a matter of fact, around the time of her Gossip Girl visit, Ivanka launched a line of clothing and shoes, building on her fine jewelry collection. Six years later, as Donald Trump neared his inauguration as President of the United States, Ivanka stepped away from her business — which had drawn much criticism for relying exclusively on low-wage factories in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and China — just as Kushner himself stepped down as CEO of his real estate company.
Hahaha Jared looks like a tool even then.
I watched this series for the first time a couple years ago and was not expecting this scene. It felt a little surreal and weird to see a president’s family members in a cameo on a teen drama before he was president, but at the same time, very right for the show. They would absolutely be in the Manhattan socialite world of Gossip Girl. Also, isn’t everyone a mix of Blair and Serena?
Ivanka said she’s a mix of Blair & Lily, not Serena
Before Trump ran for president against the Democrats, him and his family were beloved by Hollywood. Then he ran in 2016 and immediately became the 2nd coming of Hitler to those same people.
nothing like the Bully Pulpit to show you who someone really is
well there’s a different between a dancing baboon and a dancing baboon with a bazooka.
Thumbs up. I may have gone dancing orangutan… but thumbs up anyway.
“Beloved by” may be a bit of a stretch – “Oddly fascinated by” feels more accurate.
People seem fixated on the Kardashians too, but Lord knows there would be an uproar if one of them got put in charge of running the country.
(Or I guess that should be “oddly fascinating to,” if we’re being nitpicky about syntax.)
He was never beloved by Hollywood. Where on Earth did you get that idea? The Trump family has always been a train wreck. Even before he ran for president, Trump was known for being “off” and everyone was always talking about how bankrupt he was and he was notorious for cheating on his wives and paying for escorts.
And Bill Cosby was beloved by everyone until they found out he drugged and raped many women. Your point???
Trump never lived in Hollywood. And Hollywood didn’t care for him. NBC did. Scott Baio and Kirsty Alley (Roseanne lives in Hawaii). NBC always operated from New York. Stop spreading fake news!
Just a nice stormtrooper and his blushing aryan bride,all they need is Mr and Mrs Stephen Miller and they’d have a squad
What’s sad is, this isn’t even one of the top 20 worst things the show did when Joshua Safran was running it.
Ivanka’s dress is terrible. And we can hear a little of squeaky Jared
Jared kushner distancing himself from Donald trump. Not smart he probably be facing charges within the next 3 days. Turning on Donald trump always lead to there downfall.