'Gossip Girl' alum Chanel Maya Banks' family claims 'imposter' woman found by police isn't their daughter

Chanel Maya Banks, reportedly not seen by her family since October 30, was found on November 11 in Texas following a massive search operation
UPDATED NOV 16, 2024
Chanel Maya Banks has been reported missing by her family since October 30 (Phillip Faraone/WireImage)
Chanel Maya Banks has been reported missing by her family since October 30 (Phillip Faraone/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A new twist has come in the case of 'Gossip Girl' alum Chanel Maya Banks.

The 36-year-old actress had reportedly not been seen by her family since October 30 but was found last Monday, November 11, in Texas after authorities launched a major search operation.

However, now her family has claimed that the found woman is not Banks, according to RadarOnline.com.

(ohheychanel/TikTok)
Chanel Maya Banks was found on November 11 (ohheychanel/TikTok)

Chanel Maya Banks' cousin claims she has joined some cult

Chanel Maya Banks’ cousin Danielle-Tori Singh, based in Toronto, shared on her Instagram Story. “I have the still from Texas PD body cam footage that was shown to us on Monday Nov 11 at the Pacific Police Station in LA,” she said.

“This is the woman they're telling us is Chanel. We have told them this is not Chanel. They didn't listen to us and closed the case. That's why [Banks] won't post a video saying she's safe because it's not Chanel,” she added.

Singh further claimed on Facebook, “Who is this imposter? Where is Chanel? Now does everyone believe us? We need to hire a PI like yesterday. And, now we can't because our GoFundMe is frozen until they can verify."

Making another shocking claim, Banks' cousin said, according to CBS Austin, “We know she's a part of a cult. We know that this organized group is not allowing her (to use) her phone.”

“The things that she is posting on her social media are not true and it's not her. The only facial recognition that she provided is a little clip that she posted -- or whoever posted -- of her where she's getting her makeup done last night,” Singh added.

Chanel Maya Banks accuses her family of planning to put her under conservatorship

This came after Chanel Maya Banks accused her family of abuse in a now-deleted social media post.

(ohheychanel/TikTok)
Chanel Maya Banks made shocking claims against her family (ohheychanel/TikTok)

She reportedly alleged, “My name is Chanel Banks. I’m a 36-year-old American nobody, and for my entire life I have been silently carrying the pain of the ritual… abuse, manipulation, and outright endless torment I’ve endured continuously since I was a defenseless baby, at the hands of my own so-called family, who are all so very ‘concerned’ about my current whereabouts.”

“I have met with the police and verified that not only am I okay, but I’m finally free,” she added.

Banks then went on to claim that not only her family but her husband’s family were also against her. 

“I found out hours before leaving that not only my mother's family, but also my dear husband's, were vehemently pursuing a CONSERVATORSHIP i.e. complete legal control to silence me,” she asserted.

MORE STORIES

The post Khloe Kardashian liked featured Charlie Kirk speaking with a fan at an event about his devout Christian faith
Sep 13, 2025
Whitney Cummings sparked widespread outrage after posting a controversial tweet about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
Sep 13, 2025
Prince Harry was spotted entering King Charles’s London residence, months after saying his father had ignored his calls
Sep 11, 2025
Rosie O'Donnell said Ellen DeGeneres’ friendship denial hurt so much she printed T-shirts for her staff reading, 'I don’t know Rosie, we’re not friends'
Sep 10, 2025
A post alleged that Karoline Leavitt called Patti LaBelle 'just a singer,' leading LaBelle to deliver a seven-word response that froze the studio
Sep 10, 2025
Jennifer Lopez feels free channeling emotions into music, but Ben Affleck is embarrassed and sees it as crossing a line, according to the source
Sep 9, 2025
Howard Stern added that he missed last week’s show due to illness, not contract talks, and addressed rumors of being fired from his own show
Sep 9, 2025
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement in August 2025 triggered a wave of pregnancy chatter after an ultrasound photo went viral
Sep 9, 2025
Ed Sheeran, 34, revealed that he was leaving Suffolk with his wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters, Lyra and Jupiter
Sep 9, 2025
From Ice Spice’s chaotic corset to Paris Hilton’s flame dress, see the celebs who landed on the worst-dressed list at the 2025 VMAs
Sep 8, 2025