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In One Tree Hill histrion Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir Dinner for Vampires: Life connected A Cult TV Show (While Also successful an Actual Cult), she volition item however she entered and near the ultra-Christian group.
By Olivia Evans Oct 15, 2024 2:03 PMTags
Bethany Joy Lenz Names Alleged "Cult" She Belonged To
Bethany Joy Lenz is opening up connected a life-altering experience.
The One Tree Hill star, who antecedently opened up astir the alleged cult that she was indoctrinated into arsenic a 20-year-old, volition item the acquisition successful her upcoming memoir Dinner for Vampires: Life connected a Cult TV Show (While Also successful an Actual Cult). And she precocious shared however she got caught up successful the ultra-Christian radical successful the archetypal place.
“I had ever been looking for a spot to belong,” Bethany, 43, explained to People successful an nonfiction published Oct. 15, noting that the problematic radical started retired arsenic simply survey radical nights arsenic a pastor’s house. “It inactive looked mean and past it conscionable morphed. But by the clip it started morphing, I was excessively acold into the relationships to notice.”
Bethany described that she was aboriginal asked by the pastor, whom she called “Les” to determination to a “Big House” oregon a small, commune-style situation successful Idaho to partake successful the cult-like radical known arsenic The Big House Family.
Soon enough, Bethany’s engagement successful the radical caught the attraction of her One Tree Hill castmates arsenic she recalled seeing interest “on their faces.” In fact, costar Craig Sheffer adjacent asking her “point blank” if she was successful a cult portion filming the CW series.
“I was like, 'No, no, no,’” she recalled telling him. “‘Cults are weird. Cults are radical successful robes chanting brainsick things and drinking Kool-Aid. That’s not what we do!’”
Nearly 10 years aft joining, Bethany herself realized thing was disconnected astir the community. After she joined a chap subordinate and aboriginal welcomed her girl Rosie, present 13, successful 2011, she realized she wanted to permission a twelvemonth later. (The Pearson alum divorced Michael Galeotti successful 2012 aft 5 years of marriage.)
Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Still, Bethany noted, it wasn’t truthful simple.
“The stakes were truthful high,” she said. “They were my lone friends. I was joined into this group. I had built my full beingness astir it. If I admitted that I was wrong—everything other would travel crumbling down.”
However, Bethany was capable to marque it out—and is present telling her communicative due to the fact that she believes it is the “right” happening to do.
“I don't deliberation of it arsenic brave," she added, expressing anticipation that it helps different radical successful akin situations. “I deliberation of it arsenic important."
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