Bethany Joy Lenz Apologizes to Her Parents Over Cult Experience
Bethany Joy Lenz recently expressed deep emotions in an exclusive clip with Tommy DiDario. The actress, known for her role in "One Tree Hill," opened up about seeing her parents after spending ten years involved with a small, ultra-Christian cult. This conversation coincided with the release of her memoir, "Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show," on Oct. 22.
In the podcast episode airdated on Oct. 29, Lenz revealed her fear of having vulnerable discussions with her parents. She shared, "I'm still scared of having vulnerable conversations with my parents." She took time to reflect on her past and what she had not communicated explicitly to them. Jokingly, she noted, "I say all the bad words now," alluding to her growth. Lenz openly admitted, "I’m scared of emotion," but emphasized her intention to improve this.
"I don’t know if I’ve ever just flat-out said to my parents, 'I’m sorry. For what I put you through in those ten years,'" she revealed. Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Lenz continued, "Mom, Dad, I’m really sorry for what I put you through for those ten years." She expressed gratitude for their patience and grace during her difficult period.
Rebuilding Family Relationships
Lenz expressed clarity about her emotional journey after exiting the cult. She mentioned, "It took some emotional moments and time to just figure out the kind of relationship I wanted to have with my parents in adulthood." After experiencing isolation, she stated, "At one point, I felt detached, saying, 'You're not even my family!'" Her parents welcomed her back warmly, alleviating her fears.
She added that her feelings evolved, noting, "I was like, 'OK, now you are the only people I have in the world.' And they reassured me, 'Don't be ridiculous. We love you.'" Lenz reflected on how this support deeply affected her, saying, "It's turned out well. I love both my parents."
Perspective on Feud with Hilarie Burton
In a second exclusive clip, Lenz addressed reports of a feud with her former "One Tree Hill" co-star Hilarie Burton. On "Call Her Daddy" on Oct. 16, Lenz stated, "I don’t have any problem with Hilarie." She explained, "There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I hope we can figure out."
Addressing potential conflicts related to the reboot of "One Tree Hill," she said, "It's crazy to me, all of this. I love Hilarie. I have no ill will toward her." Lenz firmly noted, "I would never want to be involved in a reboot with animosity."
Speculation about their relationship started when fans saw the actresses unfollowing each other on Instagram. Lenz candidly described the irony facing the issue while promoting her memoir, "I am trying to tell people a story about what happens in group triangulation." She expressed concern over the narrative surrounding her and Burton, stating, "Do you understand that you're doing exactly what I'm talking about? This triangulation is so not helpful."
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