“One Tree Hill” alums Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton claimed the creator of the show, Mark Schwahn, coerced them into posing for a sexy shoot for Maxim.
The actors insisted they were uncomfortable at the idea of the shoot, but were made to feel they had no choice but to participate during Monday’s episode of their podcast, “Drama Queens,” according to Page Six.
“It was very much a, ’No one else wants you, the studio wants to cancel your show,” they revealed. “You don’t start to generate some buzz and attract these male numbers, we’re dead and all your friends are going to lose their jobs,’” Burton said, according to Page Six.
Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush allege creator Mark Schwahn threatened and shamed them into the shoot to save the show, but Bethany Joy Lenz was “too fat” (via @toofab)https://t.co/0aFsqT1Ot5
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 29, 2022
“At that time, I said, ‘No, I don’t want to do this,’ and I was told I had to,” Bush said, according to Page Six.
“It was such a profound threat and a threat to being able to — honestly, even to have the ability to escape for a weekend, a place that at this stage, this season, I was leaving every chance I got,” Bush said. She went on to express that she felt the “One Tree Hill” set was “not a safe place for her,” she said, according to Page Six.
“This was such a threat to safety,” Bush said, with reference to the “One Tree Hill” set.
Bush said she faced threats and felt trapped when the photo shoot was being discussed. (RELATED: Canadian Rockstar Jacob Hoggard Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Sexual Assault)
Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton claim they were coerced into Maxim shoot https://t.co/8nwExsrxgI pic.twitter.com/JOwPQKOzHE
— Page Six (@PageSix) November 29, 2022
“If you do not go and shoot this cover with your co-stars, we will guarantee you that you will never be let out for a press day, a movie, an event, any of your charities. We will keep you here forever,” Schwahn reportedly said to her at the time, according to Page Six.
Bethany Joy Lenz, who played the role of Haley James Scott, said she was not permitted to participate in the shoot, and that was used against her as an attack on her weight and size.
“They told me that they didn’t come to me because I was too fat,” she claimed on the podcast, according to Page Six.
Bush and Burton were stunned by her comments and claimed they were told she turned down the shoot. However, the women said they now realized that Lenz, 41, had been used as a “scapegoat” so that the other cast members “couldn’t say no.”
Schwahn was accused of sexually harassingnumerous cast members and crew. He was also fired from his role on “The Royals” due to accusations of sexual misconduct, according to Page Six.