Bethany was under the sway of a manipulative pastor. Her upcoming memoir, 'Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)', promises to be a tell-all that sheds light on the dark corners of her past, aiming to empower others trapped in similar ordeals.
- Bethany Joy Lenz was in a cult
- She tells it all in a new memoir
- Her double life is extraordinary
The Cult's Grip
Imagine the glitz and glamour of starring in one of the early 2000s' most beloved teen dramas, only to have your off-screen life governed by a shadowy cult.
That was the reality for Bethany Joy Lenz, who played a leading role in 'One Tree Hill'. Behind the scenes, Lenz was ensnared by a so-called ultra-Christian group led by a "shady pastor" from Idaho, who dictated her career moves, life choices, and even her finances.
Lenz's involvement with the cult began innocently enough, with Bible study sessions that felt like "water in a desert" to the young actress seeking community. However, under the guidance of a visiting pastor, these meetings quickly morphed into something more sinister.
Despite early warnings from co-star Craig Sheffer, Lenz found herself justifying her involvement, unable to see the reality of her situation.
The turning point came after the birth of her daughter, Rosie, in 2012. Faced with the daunting prospect of raising her child within the cult's confines, Lenz mustered the courage to leave both the group and her marriage to a fellow member. It was a decision fraught with fear of losing her only friends and the life she had built, but one that ultimately led her to freedom.
"I don't think of it as brave," she says, of why she's finally opening up. "I think of it as important. Living silently in the suffering I experienced, I don't know if that helps anyone." She hopes her book will empower others in similar situations: "I think of this more as the right thing to do."
Lenz first met the pastor through a bible study she'd joined when she moved to L.A. at 20 to further her acting career.
"I had always been looking for a place to belong," she explains. She'd grown up an Evangelical Christian, the only child of parents who married young and moved around a lot before divorcing when Lenz was 16. Acting and her church group were her anchors and a great way to meet like-minded people.
At first, she loved her bible study. They'd sing, worship and have philosophical conversations about God and life's meaning. Finding that group felt like "water in a desert" to the young actress, who says she had never before had that kind of connection.
"We crave that kind of intimacy," she says. "The idea that someone out there says, 'No matter what you do or how badly you might behave or what dumb choices you make, I still love you, and I'm here for you.'”
When other around her reacted, she knew something bad was brewing. "I could see it on their faces," she says of their reactions. "But I'd justify it, like, 'I couldn't possibly be in a cult. It's just that I've got access to a relationship with God and people in a way that everybody else wants, but they don't know how to get it,'" she explains.
Eventually, the cracks began to show. but Lenz didn't know that she could get out. She'd married a fellow "family" member and in 2012, a year after the birth of her daughter Rosie, she realized she wanted to leave both her marriage and the cult. But it wasn't easy.
"The stakes were so high," she says. "They were my only friends. I was married into this group. I had built my entire life around it. If I admitted that I was wrong ... everything else would come crumbling down."
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Lenz's memoir is not just a personal catharsis but a beacon of hope for those facing similar predicaments. By sharing her story, Lenz aims to lift the veil on the realities of cult involvement and the challenging journey to reclaim one's life.
'Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)' is set to hit the shelves on October 22. It's a must-read for fans, supporters, and anyone looking for a story of resilience and redemption.
