One Tree Hill actress Bethany Joy Lenz was in a cult for years
“It wasn't until 10 years later that I dared to talk about it.”
While the series ‘One Tree Hill’ became increasingly popular, actress Bethany Joy Lenz led a double life. Throughout the entire period that the show aired, she was part of an extreme Christian cult. It wasn't until 10 years later that she managed to escape and start anew. In her book ‘Dinner for Vampires Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)’ she talks about her time in the cult and what it was like to break free from it.
Truly belonging somewhere
When Bethany was 20, she moved to LA to work on her acting career. In this new environment, she sought a place to belong. She had grown up as an evangelical Christian, was an only child, and had very young parents who themselves were not really settled anywhere. Bethany's parents divorced when she was 16, and her faith and her acting dream kept her going. Once in LA, she joined a Bible study group. A place where they sang together, prayed, and talked about God and life. It was the connection she had been searching for all along, a place where people were there for her no matter what happened. When one day another pastor came by, nothing seemed amiss. He began to lead the meetings and started convincing people to move to a ‘big house’ in Idaho to live together. Still, for Bethany, nothing seemed wrong. But when that began to change, she was already too deep in the community.
Life in the cult
The cult began to increasingly dictate Bethany's life. Steps in her career, important life choices, and even her bank account were monitored. In 2005, she married Michael Galeotti, a musician from the indie rock band Enation who was also part of the same community. Her One Tree Hill colleagues began to notice that something was off. But Bethany dismissed their disapproving looks by convincing herself that she was not in a cult, but simply had access to a special connection with God that others could only dream of. Even when her co-star Craig Sheffer told her straight to her face that she was in a cult, she continued to deny it.
Cracks become visible
After a few years, Bethany began to realize that she was not in a good environment. But she had no idea how to get out. She was married in this community; these were her friends. In 2011, she and Michael had a daughter together, Rosie. A year later, Bethany realized that she wanted to leave her marriage and the cult. But the question remained: how? This was her life; everything was built around it. When ‘One Tree Hill’ ended in 2012, she decided to return to LA. Without her husband, away from the cult, with only her daughter. She had to start all over again. She no longer had her money, and it was a constant hope for a role, no matter how small, to make ends meet.
Doing good
More than 10 years after leaving the cult, Bethany decided to write her story in a book. She hopes to empower others who are in similar situations as she was all those years ago. She does not see herself as brave. This, according to her, is the only good thing to do with her experience. Because as she says: “Living in silence with the suffering I have experienced, I don't know if that helps anyone.”
‘Dinner for Vampires Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)’ will be available for purchase from October 22.
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