‘One Tree Hill’ star Bethany Joy Lenz has finally come to terms with her cult past

As a movie critic with a background in psychology and a fascination for human resilience, I find Bethany Joy Lenz‘s memoir, “Dinner for Vampires,” to be a gripping account of survival, self-discovery, and the allure of cults. Lenz masterfully weaves her personal journey with her professional life on the hit TV show “One Tree Hill,” creating a compelling narrative that transcends the typical celebrity memoir.

As a movie reviewer, I’d rephrase that quote as follows: “To put it simply, I wasn’t a household name back then, so I doubt people would be too interested in hearing about my association with a small religious group during my time on ‘One Tree Hill.’ Honesty compels me to share this part of my past, but let’s just say it was a unique experience that didn’t quite make headlines.

On a Zoom conversation held on her sunlit Nashville porch, she revealed that her connection to the Big House Family had become well-known among her co-stars by the time she managed to break free from it in 2012. This association was an open secret within the group.

Initially, Joy Lenz, who usually uses her middle name, casually brought up the group during a podcast last year called “Drama Queens,” sharing a joke with co-hosts Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton about writing a book on it. This casual remark made news headlines. Now, just over a year and a half later, Joy’s book titled “Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While Also in an Actual Cult),” is set to hit bookshelves on October 22.

For some time prior to discussing it on “Drama Queens,” Lenz had been contemplating penning a book detailing her personal experiences. She had already drafted approximately 40 pages as a means of working through it, and when composing the memoir, she referenced those pages along with numerous years of journal entries.

She expresses that it was a deeply emotional and mentally draining experience. I doubt I’d wish to compose anything so quickly ever again.

The memoir details her upbringing in Florida, Texas and the tri-state area around New York City, as well as her early experiences with religion, including what she describes as an encounter with God. As a young aspiring actress in the early 2000s, Lenz avoided the lure of the Hollywood party scene and instead gravitated to a youth Bible study group. It was there that she met an enigmatic pastor that she calls Les in the book (In an author’s note to her Simon & Schuster book, Lenz says she changed names and some identifying details for clarity and to protect the privacy of those that she says are recovering from their time in the cult), who would end up becoming the leader of Big House Family.

For over a decade with the group, Lenz led two distinct lives. This period overlapped with her nine seasons on “One Tree Hill” (2003-2012). Her colleagues sensed something amiss, she notes, and grew concerned about the cult’s dominance in her life, especially regarding her financial affairs.

Upon Lenz’s departure from the group, she simultaneously ended her marriage with the pastor’s son, who is also the father of her child.

In the prologue, Lenz states that he felt certain she, the girl he had known, wouldn’t abandon him. Later on, after meeting up with his former acquaintances, relatives, and counselors, he found himself reflecting upon the past version of himself – the other girl he once was.

Lenz chose not to confine her understanding of her experiences solely to her close friends and occasional Hollywood events; instead, she decided to share some details with a few acquaintances. However, she explains that she grappled with the tension between her need for privacy and anonymity against her desire to find redemption in this narrative and help others. Ultimately, her compassion for others won out over her personal inclination towards seclusion.

As she shares her tale, she expresses her aim to instill trust in others. “I wish for individuals to utilize this book as a guide during their own voyage,” she states. “And I hope they discover optimism by reaching the conclusion of their path.

Faith, in essence, doesn’t always equate to being religious. Instead, for Lenz, her current perspective on religion leans more towards exploring the unknown and placing trust in herself rather than adhering to strict rules.

She believes wellness culture has become culty in its own right, with wishy-washy aspects from different belief systems amalgamated into social media-friendly idioms.

Whenever I log into Instagram, it seems like someone is constantly dictating my thoughts, and there’s always advice on what positive affirmations I should use when looking at myself in the mirror, according to Lenz.

She has unique perspectives on why certain performers, including Allison Mack from “Smallville,” who spent two years in federal prison for charges like sex trafficking, conspiracy in sex trafficking, and forced labor conspiracy due to her involvement with NXIVM, a group claiming to be a self-help organization, have been easily influenced by controversial religious figures.

Actors are often sensitive individuals who earn significant income, making them an attractive prospect for self-centered individuals. As she puts it straightforwardly, ‘There’s no brighter beacon than them.’ She adds that everyone has the potential to fall under manipulation or influence at any given moment.

Right now, Lenz is focused on creative endeavors.

In “Dinner for Vampires,” she discusses developing a musical adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ “The Notebook” (different from the one on Broadway) which she had to abandon at the request of the Big House Family. Currently, she is engaged in composing songs, novels, a pop musical inspired by Pocahontas, and a rock opera centered around a female science fiction writer from the 17th century.

“I’m in a season of yes,” Lenz says.

Does that include joining former “One Tree Hill” co-stars Bush and Burton on a rumored reboot?

Lenz expresses, “I have this persistent desire to return there. That place will forever resonate within me. If given the opportunity to contribute creatively to a fresh take on it, I’d be overjoyed. As long as it aligns logically, I’m definitely open to it. It’s not a no.

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2024-10-22 13:34