One Tree Hill's Bethany Joy Lenz Reveals Fallout with Hilarie Burton Was Caused by 'Bizarre Misunderstandings'

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Hilarie Burton Morgan and Bethany Joy Lenz.Photo:Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Jason Kempin/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Jason Kempin/Getty

After months of speculation that the two may be on the outs, it’s been confirmed thatBethany Joy LenzandHilarie Burton Morganare not in a good place.During an appearance on theCall Her Daddypodcast on Wednesday, Oct. 16,One Tree Hillalum Lenz, 43, opened up about the rift she’s felt with her former costar.“I love Hilarie, I have always and will always, and I don’t have any problem with her,” Lenz admitted. “There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl.”PEOPLE has reached out to Burton’s rep for comment.(L-R) Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz and Sophia Bush.David Becker/GettyRumors of their feud first surfaced in March when eagle-eyed fans noticed that neither of the actresses followed each other on Instagram. Other internet sleuths have theorized that the rift began when Lenz announced the release of her memoir,Dinner for Vampires, which looked similar to the cover of Burton Morgan’s 2023 memoir,Grimoire Girl.In late February, Burton Morgan seemingly referenced the similarities in their books when she posted a meme onher Instagram Storiesthat read, “I don’t think imitation is the highest form of flattery, I think it’s annoying."(L-R) Sophia Bush, Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton, James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Lenz on ‘One Tree Hill’.EverettEventually, Burton Morgan announced she was stepping back from theOne Tree Hillrewatch podcast,Drama Queens, which she hosted alongside Lenz andSophia Bush. The actress, who starred as Peyton Sawyer for six seasons, revealed she would be relinquishing her co-hosting duties after the trio made its way through the end of season 6 in late June.“We have reached the end of my behind-the-scenes experience on the show, and so I really started to question what I brought to this, but also how we keep that storytelling alive and important,” Burton Morgan told her costars during a July episode. “And so, as we head into seasons 7 through 9, it was important that we introduced a new queen who could take over for me.”While she said she’s “still gonna pop in here and there,” they wanted to find a new host “who represented the same things that I’ve brought to this show.”The trio landed onRobert Buckley, who joinedOne Tree Hillin season 7 right as Peyton departed. He played Clay Evans, the cocky sports agent to Nathan (James Lafferty) who ultimately marries Lenz’s character’s sister Quinn (Shantel VanSanten).At the time of her announcement, Burton Morgan confessed that she’s had a sense of peace now that she didn’t have to nervously wait share new things every episode.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It felt like I could finally take a deep breath,” she said. “Because every single week, it was, Oh my God, I gotta tell that story. Oh, myGgod. We have to relive that. And there’s, obviously, like, so much good stuff that was in it. But it – I would have to kinda psych myself up every week.“She continued, “And this was the first week in years at this point that I’ve been like, I don’t have to – I don’t have to divulge s— today.“One Tree Hillis streaming in full on Max, and Lenz’sDinner for Vampiresbook will be available to purchase on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

After months of speculation that the two may be on the outs, it’s been confirmed thatBethany Joy LenzandHilarie Burton Morganare not in a good place.

During an appearance on theCall Her Daddypodcast on Wednesday, Oct. 16,One Tree Hillalum Lenz, 43, opened up about the rift she’s felt with her former costar.

“I love Hilarie, I have always and will always, and I don’t have any problem with her,” Lenz admitted. “There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Burton’s rep for comment.

(L-R) Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz and Sophia Bush.David Becker/Getty

Rumors of their feud first surfaced in March when eagle-eyed fans noticed that neither of the actresses followed each other on Instagram. Other internet sleuths have theorized that the rift began when Lenz announced the release of her memoir,Dinner for Vampires, which looked similar to the cover of Burton Morgan’s 2023 memoir,Grimoire Girl.

In late February, Burton Morgan seemingly referenced the similarities in their books when she posted a meme onher Instagram Storiesthat read, “I don’t think imitation is the highest form of flattery, I think it’s annoying.”

(L-R) Sophia Bush, Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton, James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Lenz on ‘One Tree Hill’.Everett

Everett

Eventually, Burton Morgan announced she was stepping back from theOne Tree Hillrewatch podcast,Drama Queens, which she hosted alongside Lenz andSophia Bush. The actress, who starred as Peyton Sawyer for six seasons, revealed she would be relinquishing her co-hosting duties after the trio made its way through the end of season 6 in late June.

“We have reached the end of my behind-the-scenes experience on the show, and so I really started to question what I brought to this, but also how we keep that storytelling alive and important,” Burton Morgan told her costars during a July episode. “And so, as we head into seasons 7 through 9, it was important that we introduced a new queen who could take over for me.”

While she said she’s “still gonna pop in here and there,” they wanted to find a new host “who represented the same things that I’ve brought to this show.”

The trio landed onRobert Buckley, who joinedOne Tree Hillin season 7 right as Peyton departed. He played Clay Evans, the cocky sports agent to Nathan (James Lafferty) who ultimately marries Lenz’s character’s sister Quinn (Shantel VanSanten).

At the time of her announcement, Burton Morgan confessed that she’s had a sense of peace now that she didn’t have to nervously wait share new things every episode.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“It felt like I could finally take a deep breath,” she said. “Because every single week, it was, Oh my God, I gotta tell that story. Oh, myGgod. We have to relive that. And there’s, obviously, like, so much good stuff that was in it. But it – I would have to kinda psych myself up every week.”

She continued, “And this was the first week in years at this point that I’ve been like, I don’t have to – I don’t have to divulge s— today.”

One Tree Hillis streaming in full on Max, and Lenz’sDinner for Vampiresbook will be available to purchase on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

source: people.com