Sophia Bush Fondly Recalls Austin Nichols Romance & Reveals Haunting Ghost Story: 'A Bond That Endures'
Sophia Bush and Austin Nichols, former costars on 'One Tree Hill', had a bittersweet romance that lasted for years until their split in 2012 Despite parting ways, they maintain a strong friendship and share a spooky ghost story
Sophia Bush, Austin Nichols. FilmMagic
Sophia Bush revealed her most fascinating supernatural encounter, which happened to involve her ex-boyfriend, Austin Nichols.
During a recent episode of the "Drama Queens" podcast on Thursday, October 26, the 41-year-old actress reminisced about the early days of their show, "One Tree Hill." She mentioned how all the co-stars were paired off, except for her, following her highly publicized split with Chad Michael Murray. It was during this time that she went on her first date with Austin Nichols, a kind and charming guy, at the age of 23. Their relationship then continued intermittently for several years.
The actress proceeded to recount to her podcast cohosts Hilarie Burton Morgan and Bethany Joy Lenz that Nichols, who is 43 years old, became part of the One Tree Hill cast after he boldly declared to Bush that he would not allow their relationship to be halted due to the challenges of long distance.
Bush enthusiastically commended this audacious and romantic action, describing it as "bold, gorgeous," and added that she and Nichols frequently joke about it. They have maintained a strong friendship to this day.
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Bush proceeded to share the eerie encounter she and Nichols encountered while residing together in Wilmington, North Carolina, where OTH was filmed.
"When we finally had the opportunity to date properly after living in different cities for ten years, there came a moment when we were sleeping in my eerie apartment. I had a strong feeling that it was haunted," she recounted. "One night, I was abruptly awakened by a strange noise coming from the floor. Frightened, I turned on the light and Austin, who was beside me, asked about the source of the noise. We cautiously approached it together. Suddenly, a volleyball-sized orb emerged from the floor, causing both of us to scream. Overwhelmed with fear, we quickly jumped up and ran away. The object transformed from a round shape to a tall form and then vanished into thin air."
Despite the terrifying experience, Bush expressed her immense relief for having a friend by her side during that time.
"We still find it quite strange, don't we? It's reassuring to know we're not entirely delusional," Bush jested.
Bush and Nichols, who also portrayed a couple on the television show One Tree Hill, officially ended their on-and-off relationship in February 2012 after dating for six years. "She never saw him as her life partner," a confidential source revealed to us back then. "She's ready to move forward."
In addition to dating Nichols, Bush also had relationships with Murray, 42, and James Lafferty, both stars of One Tree Hill.
Murray and Bush got married in April 2005, but just five months later, they announced their separation due to rumors of infidelity. Several years later, Bush revealed that she is unable to discuss Murray due to the strong reactions people have from their past.
"I've attempted to mock my foolish younger self, but whenever I do, it gets misconstrued as me badmouthing someone I no longer even know, who is clearly an adult," she shared on the "Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum" podcast in August 2021. "I believe it's important to find humor in who you used to be, but when people bring up past events involving someone else... it's not worth my energy. I don't hold any animosity or grudges. I was just a naive 21-year-old, and that's the extent of it."
After their divorce, Bush engaged in a brief relationship with Lafferty, 38, in 2008.
Bush made headlines in August when news broke that she and Grant Hughes had ended their 13-month marriage. In October, numerous sources reported that Bush had started a new relationship with soccer star Ashlyn Harris.
According to an insider, "Despite only going on their first official date a few weeks ago, they already have a strong connection. They enjoy each other's company, share a love for sports, and are passionate about making a positive impact in the world."
