In an interview with Selection, Bethany opened up in regards to the “painful” time when she was in a cult whereas filming the favored CW present.
It began with becoming a member of a Bible examine group in Los Angeles. “I moved to a brand new state, moved to a brand new metropolis, and I went to a different Wednesday evening Bible examine, and that’s all it was to me,” she mentioned. Since Bethany had grown up in a “Christian residence,” this sort of fellowship was acquainted. However, “the friendships appeared deeper, extra susceptible in some way.”
However then, the one that was introduced in to a management place was “sociopathic,” she mentioned. Bethany in contrast the chief to Keith Raniere, the disgraced chief of NXIVM, who was sentenced to “120 years in jail.”
When requested if the solid and crew knew, Bethany answered, “Oh, yeah. It was open with them — it was the whisper behind the scenes, like ‘, she’s in a cult.'” Bethany added, “For some time, they had been all attempting to save lots of me and rescue me, which is beautiful and so wonderful to be cared about in that means. However I used to be very cussed.”
On the time, Bethany defined, she felt actually “dedicated” to what she believed in. “I don’t assume anyone may have mentioned something. I needed to do what I needed to do,” Bethany mentioned.
Bethany defined how the cult created a way of “isolation” and “mistrust” of everybody round her. “It constructed a deep wedge of mistrust between me and my solid and crew,” she shared.
“I imply, it was like a secret life. I’m on this TV present. I’m dwelling this glamorous, superstar life — as folks see it — and I’ve a complete secret life happening. It was so painful,” she mentioned.
Bethany says that “motherhood” ultimately led Bethany out of the cult, regardless of the “concern of leaving and never understanding what is going to occur.” She left shortly after One Tree Hill wrapped in 2012.
Bethany added that filming “9 months out of the 12 months” in North Carolina additionally made a distinction, and presumably “saved [her] life.” Bethany mentioned, “I believe that spatial separation made an enormous distinction when it was time for me to get up.”
“It’s been a really arduous lesson, and it put me in a spot the place I actually stopped trusting lots of people,” Bethany mentioned of her expertise. “I’m certain it affected my work. I’m certain I had unusual tendencies. I’ve overreactions to not trusting folks in situations which can be trivial.”
Right this moment, Bethany is specializing in dwelling as “authentically” as attainable whereas she finds new which means along with her religion. “It took 10 years to this point of unwinding and following the guideposts that I see and learning, researching, being considerate,” she mentioned. “I really feel a lot extra free now, a lot happier, a lot extra genuine in my life.”
You may learn the complete interview right here.
