Bethany Joy Lenz Opens Up About Her Decade in a Cult and Her Time on ‘One Tree Hill’

Bethany Joy Lenz, known for her role as Haley James Scott on the popular TV series ‘One Tree Hill,’ has recently shared her harrowing experiences of being part of a cult for over a decade. In her upcoming memoir, ‘Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show,’ Lenz details her involvement with the Big House Family, a commune-like community based in Idaho.

Lenz explained that her journey into the cult began innocently with weekly Bible studies, which eventually took a darker turn. “It looked so normal” initially, she noted, highlighting how cults often present themselves in a benign or even appealing manner before revealing their true nature.

The actress described the cult’s charismatic leader and the sense of community and secrecy that drew her in, despite her success and fame. “Most people would think a celebrity would never be attracted to a cult and that cults are completely ridiculous, but cults have very charismatic leaders who are incredibly luring and promise the community, connection, and a culture of secrecy, which most celebrities crave,” said Mike Diamond, a Certified Addiction Recovery Expert and Celebrity interventionist.

Lenz’s time on ‘One Tree Hill’ played a significant role in her eventual departure from the cult. The show’s production schedule required her to be away from the group for extended periods, which helped her break free from the cult’s influence. Her experiences on the show, particularly the emotional connections she made with her characters, also helped her cope with the despair and depression she felt while under the cult’s control. “I think that’s one of the contributing factors to why I think ‘One Tree Hill’ saved me,” she said.

Lenz also spoke about the challenges she faced on the set of ‘One Tree Hill,’ including creative decisions that conflicted with her personal beliefs. She recalled a blunt warning from an executive before she signed her contract, stating that the show was about “f—ing and sucking,” which she initially found shocking but ultimately decided to overlook in favor of the show’s grit and meaningful messages.

Her faith played a crucial role in her recovery from the cult. Lenz mentioned that finding a more authentic faith helped her overcome the immense shame she felt from her experiences. “The more authentic I got with God, the more I saw that He could handle me in all of my mess, my anger, my fear, and that I was going to be okay to make mistakes,” she explained.