Rachel Bilson Saved by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen from Overwhelm of Adam Brody Fans
Rachel Bilson recalls how Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen came to her rescue, saving her from a swarm of Adam Brody fans during the peak of 'The OC' frenzy A heartwarming tale of friendship amidst overwhelming adoration
Rachel Bilson, 42, shared her firsthand experience of the pandemonium surrounding "The O.C." during an appearance on TRL. In Alan Sepinwall’s new book, Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History, she recalled being "swarmed by a mass mob" of fans who wanted to meet her then-boyfriend and costar, Adam Brody. Bilson managed to escape with help from an unlikely source: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
"Bilson, coauthoring the book with The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz and executive producer Stephanie Savage, shared the experience of being rescued by the Olsen twins and thrown into their car. She admitted she left Brody behind out of nervousness and was reminded by the twins to go back for him. Meanwhile, Brody, 43, claimed in the book that he didn’t recall having “many Beatles moments” during his fame, but Bilson was quick to remind him of the TRL incident and noted that he may not remember correctly."
Adam Brody. Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tribeca TV
Brody acknowledged that although he initially didn't remember the "mass mob" incident, he realized his life had changed when a woman approached him and "[hooked] up" with him, welcoming him to Hollywood. He described the encounter as a recognition of a change in his status, recalling the moment as "innocent and joyful" even though others might view it as "gross."
Brody and Bilson, who portrayed high school sweethearts Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts in the teen drama, dated in real life from 2003 to 2006. Despite ending their relationship before the show concluded in 2007, Bilson later stated that the romance assisted her in adjusting to the fame that The O.C. brought her and her castmates.
Bilson expressed her gratitude for the shared experience, stating, "Because of what the show was and how young we all were, going through it with someone experiencing the same thing and having that kind of support was really awesome." She also added, "I’m actually grateful that I did have it. It was definitely a unique experience and I don’t think anyone else could have really understood it had they not been in it." Additionally, Bilson acknowledged the relationship as "super helpful and supportive" as she navigated life in the spotlight, ultimately expressing "total gratitude for the whole experience."
After splitting from Bilson, Brody married Leighton Meester in 2014. The duo share daughter Arlo, 8, and a son, 3, whose name they haven’t publicly shared.
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Bilson, meanwhile, dated Hayden Christensen from 2007 to 2017. The former couple are the parents of daughter Briar Rose, 9.
Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History is available now.
