One Tree Hill star reveals she was in a cult for a decade-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

Former One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz was once in a cult (Picture: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)

One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz has shared that she spent 10 years in a cult.

The actress, 42, played Haley James Scott on the drama series from 2003 until 2012, and went on to appear in other shows including Dexter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Grey’s Anatomy.

Since 2021 she has also been a co-host of the Drama Queens podcast along with her former One Tree Hill co-stars, Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton Morgan.

It was in the latest episode of their show that the actress made the admission.

‘I was in a cult for 10 years,’ she said.

While she didn’t go into much detail about her experience, Bethany explained that she was considering writing a book about it all one day.

Bethany played Haley James Scott on the series from 2003 until 2012 (Picture: The CW)

‘That would be a really valuable experience to write about, and the recovery — 10 years of recovery after that. So there’s a lot to tell,’ she added.

The actress then said she had been feeling significant ‘pressure’ to tell the story of what happened properly and for it to be ‘right and everything having to be exactly real’.

‘I don’t know how much I can say because there are still people and legal things in place that make it more complicated for the timing of that. But I do write. I write all the time,’ she continued.

Although this is the first time Bethany has spoken about being in a cult, she did call out a church based in Los Angeles on social media back in 2021.

At the time she singled out the church and its leader, writing on Instagram that: ‘The level of control displayed was disturbing to me and to many other people who have left for that very reason’

‘So many people are being misled in the name of a God I love and cherish, I feel I have a responsibility to speak up for anyone willing to hear it.

Former Smallville star Allison Mack appeared to have tried to bring Bethany into the NXIVM cult years ago (Picture: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

‘The hierarchy in this “church”, the level of abuse that I’ve consistently heard goes on behind the scenes and how everything centres around the leader is textbook 101 of cults. And usually, unless you’re in the inner circle, it’s much harder to spot.’

Back in 2016 former Smallville star Allison Mack, who was recently released from prison after serving a three-year sentence for manipulating women into becoming sex slaves for cult NXIVM’s leader Keith Raniere, appeared to try and also get Bethany involved.

‘Bethany Joy Lenz, you would love this woman’s movement I’m a part of. Love to tell you about it, DM me if you want! <3,’ Mack posted on Twitter.

While now deleted, at the time Bethany was said to have responded by saying: ‘Sorry love, was already in a cult once. But LMK when you’re on the other side and we’ll talk.’

One Tree Hill is streaming on Netflix.

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