‘One Tree Hill’ Star Bethany Joy Lenz Opens Up About Being In An Abusive Cult For Ten Years

One Tree Hill alum Bethany Joy Lenz opens up about her experience in a cult in her new memoir Dinner for Vampires.

The actress promoted her memoir on her Instagram with the caption, “Dinner for Vampires, my memoir about the decade I spent in an abusive, high-demand group (aka, cult) is on presale now . . .”

The memoir follows Lenz’s life on the teen drama One Tree Hill where the actress began a “secret double life.” Lenz, who dealt with loneliness and “[wanting] a place to belong” found comfort in a Bible study group. However, things took a more sinister turn.

Lenz details her move to the Pacific Northwest with the church and being convinced by the “domineering minister” to marry one of his sons.

Lenz spent over a decade with the cult until she became a mother. Lenz says it was then that she had the courage to escape.

Lenz said she is still a follower of God after her experiences. “So many people are being misled in the name of a God I love and cherish,” she said. “I feel I have a responsibility to speak up for anyone willing to hear it.”

In 2017, Lenz came forward with other actresses to accuse One Tree Hill‘s showrunner of sexual harassment.