Bethany Joy Lenz has recently opened up about her past conflict with her One Tree Hill co-star Sophia Bush. In her memoir, Bethany shared that their falling out was a result of her involvement in the ultra-Christian organization The Big House Family, which she now refers to as a “cult.”
Bethany expressed regret over using religion as her benchmark and how it affected her friendship with Sophia. She admitted that her perspective on how a woman should operate clashed with Sophia’s behavior, even though she acknowledged Sophia’s intelligence and hard work to prove her value.
Despite hitting it off at the start of shooting the series and adopting pit bull puppies together, Bethany realized she wasn’t equipped to get too close to Sophia. However, they continued to play friends on screen throughout the show’s nine-season run.
It wasn’t until they started hosting the Drama Queens podcast with fellow alum Hilarie Burton in 2021 that they began to address their past tension. Bethany shared that they talked about their time back then, the challenges they faced, and the great experience of reconnecting.
Their relationship is still a work in progress, according to Bethany, who described it as an ever-evolving journey. E! News reached out to Sophia’s rep for comment but has not received a response yet.
In addition to their personal stories, there are more secrets from the One Tree Hill cast that have come to light over the years. The show was initially written as a movie called Ravens before turning into a series named after the U2 song “One Tree Hill.” The cast had interesting audition stories, with Chad Michael Murray turning down a role on The O.C. to play Lucas and Bethany Joy Lenz auditioning for multiple roles before landing Haley.
The relationships behind the scenes were also intriguing, with Sophia Bush dating her co-stars Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty at different times. There were successful on-set matches as well, like Lisa Goldstein marrying the show’s basketball coordinator.
However, the show also faced controversies, with sexual harassment accusations levied against creator Mark Schwahn. Cast members like Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush have spoken out about their negative experiences on set, shedding light on the dark atmosphere that existed during filming.
Despite the challenges and controversies, One Tree Hill remains a beloved show that had a lasting impact on its viewers. The cast’s behind-the-scenes stories continue to fascinate fans and provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play during the show’s nine-season run.