Michelle Trachtenberg’s Partner Opens Up on Devastating Loss
Brace yourself for more heartfelt confessions—because apparently about five months of stewing in private grief wasn’t enough. Jay Cohen, the fellow at Gersh Talent Agency who was dating Michelle Trachtenberg when she suddenly passed away in February at age 39, finally decided to leak a few emotional tidbits via his super-private Instagram account on July 10. You know, the one where only select friends can see his unwavering gratitude posts. In a move that screams “I’m doing fine, stop asking,” Jay thanked his support squad for sticking around through “common joys, tragedies, and healing from pain and grief.” Groundbreaking stuff, really.
Surprisingly, he didn’t drop Michelle’s name in that initial post—because keeping her memory under wraps for mystery’s sake is just chef’s kiss. However, eagle-eyed followers who batted their eyelashes in the comments got him to spill a bit more. He teased that he’ll share “more about the actress one day soon,” and made sure everyone knew “Michelle was loved by so many.” Cue the collective aww.
For those who care about the cold, hard facts: The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Michelle’s cause of death as complications from diabetes mellitus. Yes, the same diagnosis that kept her off-grid enough to keep her romance with Jay a secret romance novel. Yet, just weeks before she died, Michelle treated fans to a Valentine’s Day Instagram post. The Gossip Girl alum and her beau turned up in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde costumes, proving that nothing says true love like a bit of creepy face paint. Her caption? “Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who sits still long enough for me to paint his face.” Heartfelt and slightly territorial.
As if fate enjoys irony, Jay marked July 10 as his 26th kidney-transplant-versary—crediting a “selfless act” by an organ donor. Meanwhile, Michelle’s own prior liver transplant has become part of her legacy according to multiple outlets. A pair of transplant survivors in love sounds like a Netflix drama waiting to happen, doesn’t it?
And because Hollywood scripts demand a supporting cast, her former Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer costars flooded social media with sentiment. Leighton Meester called the loss “devastating” in Flaunt magazine. Sarah Michelle Gellar posted “Michelle, listen to me. I love you. I will live… for you.” Meanwhile, Pete & Pete alumni and others waxed poetic about her prankster spirit and advocacy work. Touching, sure—but also the industry equivalent of a group hug in memory of a fallen colleague.
In the end, Jay Cohen’s cryptic gratitude post reminds us that grief isn’t a headline—until you decide it is. And now you’ve got the backstage pass to his private mourning tour. And that’s your cynical wrap-up for the day. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News; New York City Medical Examiner’s Office; Jay Cohen’s Instagram; Flaunt Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
