Most of the questions surrounding the bizarre ‘missing actress’ scandal have been answered, with the former ‘Gossip Girl’ star’s family admitting their search was in vain.
Chanel Banks, known for her role on the teen drama and “Blue Bloods,” was reported missing from her Playa Vista home on November 8th by her family. She showed up in Texas a few days later, police said.
In an Instagram post Wednesday, Banks said she left for Texas to be baptized by her favorite pastor and to “get away” from the family who had reported her missing, something her husband told KTLA earlier that day. acknowledged.
“Please do not donate to the GoFundMe that says I’m missing,” the post said in part. “I’m not missing.”
Chanel Banks in this undated photo. (Daniel Tori Shin)
A GoFundMe organized and promoted by Banks’ cousin, Daniel Tori Singh, has since been shut down.
When news initially broke that Los Angeles police had confirmed that Banks had been found by authorities in Texas, Singh criticized the media for reporting it, saying the woman seen on the officer’s body camera was not her cousin. He said no.
“TMZ is reporting fake news,” she wrote on Facebook Wednesday morning.
Ms. Singh persisted in her assertion until late Thursday night, when Ms. Banks posted a short video on YouTube and announced that she was filming a television interview.
“As you can see, I’m alive,” Banks said as she put on makeup for a yet-to-be-announced interview with a television station. “Loading interview.”
Singh posted on Facebook that her family confirmed that Banks had been found three hours before the video was posted.
After confirming that Banks was found alive, Singh said all donations to the now-deleted GoFundMe would be refunded. Thousands of dollars were raised for search efforts for non-missing people.
The family was seen handing out flyers for Chanel Bank. (KTLA)
In announcing that she was alive and safe, Banks posted on Instagram that she wanted to “get away” from her mother and her family. She accused her family of being “fame hungry” and said she was a victim of sexual abuse by her stepfather.
Towards the end of her post, Banks claims that she and her husband’s family were seeking conservatorship, which led to them cutting off contact.
Mr. Banks said that his communications with Mr. Singh were infrequent, but Mr. Singh later denied this claim with screenshots of text messages he allegedly exchanged with Mr. Banks.
As of Friday afternoon, it was unclear when Banks’ television interview would air or on which station or program.
