Meester: 'Sex tape rumour is not real'

Rex Features

Leighton Meester has announced that the rumoured sex tape of her is "not real", it has been reported.

The Gossip Girl actress is said to have starred with her ex-boyfriend in a video depicting the pair engaging in carnal acts, which was being sought by an adult website.

The star, who plays Blair Waldorf on the popular CW drama, said the fact that the rumour even began in the first place is "unfortunate", People reports.

"[The tape] is not real, so it makes me sort of sad," she told Harper's Bazaar. "It's unfortunate that it got carried as far as it did."

The 23-year-old also explained that the negative experience is just a downside of being famous, adding that she took a valuable lesson away from the situation.

She said: "I definitely understand the nature of people better now and that the mere allegation of something like that could be headline news.

"People think it's real because somebody says it is."

Meester recently said that she hopes that her on-air romance with Ed Westwick's Chuck character will continue for the upcoming season of the series.

The third season of Gossip Girl will premiere on Monday, September 14 on The CW.