Former 'One Tree Hill' Star Bethany Joy Lenz Shocks Fans with Startling Revelation: My Decade-Long Journey in a Cult

Bethany Joy Lenz. AFF-USA/Shutterstock

Bethany Joy Lenz, known for her role in One Tree Hill, recently opened up about her decade-long involvement in a cult. In an episode of iHeartRadio's "Drama Queens" podcast, the 42-year-old actress revealed her hope to share her experiences to help others. Lenz expressed her interest in writing about her time in the cult and the subsequent 10 years of recovery. There is a wealth of stories to be told from this journey.

Youtube: As the subject was being discussed, Lenz and Bush, known for their roles as Haley James Scott and cohost respectively on OTH from 2003 to 2012, were asked by guest Michaela McManus if they had considered adding authorship to their resumes. It is worth noting that their fellow cohost, Hilarie Burton Morgan, has already ventured into writing with her debut memoir, The Rural Diaries, released in 2020, and her upcoming book, Grimoire Girl, scheduled to be released on October 3.

Lenz expressed her strong desire to write a book someday, mentioning that she already has a collection of essays, chapters, and other written pieces. She attributed the challenges of committing to it to her ADHD but expressed her eagerness to share her experience. Additionally, she admitted her concerns about the pressure of authenticity and the involvement of people in the process.

She added, "Furthermore, I am limited in what I can disclose due to ongoing legal matters and individuals involved, which further complicates the timing. However, I am constantly engaging in writing. It is a regular practice for me."

At 41 years old, Burton Morgan highlighted Lenz's ability to express her experiences through music. Affirming this, the lead singer of Everly stated, "Indeed, I have done exactly that."

Lenz has always been willing to share her personal experiences to support others going through similar situations. This was evident when she portrayed an impactful character on Grey's Anatomy, who suffered abuse from her partner. It was her own history that led to Lenz being chosen for this role.

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Krista Vernoff, the showrunner of Grey's Anatomy, reached out to me with knowledge of my personal history. I have previously been in an abusive relationship," Lenz disclosed on a segment of Steve Harvey's Steve show in 2018. "Although there was no physical abuse involved, it was profoundly emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually damaging in many ways."

The Guiding Light alum further expressed her motivation to portray Jenny, her character in Grey's Anatomy, in order to demonstrate that women in abusive situations can possess strength and intelligence, often without even realizing that they are victims of abuse.

Lenz, at the time, expressed that the prevalent concept of toxic masculinity, perpetuated by ideas like 'boys will be boys' or 'he just lost his temper,' has become deeply ingrained. By showcasing a confident and accomplished woman enduring abuse, she aimed to create a relatable experience for the audience. Lenz hoped that this portrayal would not only provide solace to women who might unknowingly find themselves in similar situations but also offer them a starting point to break free.