If you spent your Tuesday nights in the mid-2000s crying over rain-soaked basketball courts and angst-ridden teenagers in Tree Hill, you probably thought the bond between Haley James Scott and Peyton Sawyer was impenetrable. For years, it seemed like that off-screen bond was just as solid. Bethany Joy Lenz and Hilarie Burton, along with Sophia Bush, weren't just former coworkers; they were the "Drama Queens," a trio of women reclaiming their narrative through a massively successful rewatch podcast.
But then, things got weird.
Actually, "weird" might be an understatement. Social media sleuths noticed unfollows. Cryptic Instagram stories started appearing. Then came the announcement that Hilarie was leaving the podcast just as the show hit its seventh season. Fans were left wondering: did a decade of friendship just evaporate over a book cover, or is there something much deeper simmering under the surface?
The "Bizarre Misunderstandings" That Started It All
Honestly, most celebrity feuds start with something incredibly petty that spirals out of control because nobody actually picks up the phone. In late 2024, Bethany Joy Lenz finally sat down on the Call Her Daddy podcast to address the elephant in the room. She didn't hold back, but she also didn't throw Hilarie under the bus.
Lenz called the situation a series of "bizarre misunderstandings."
"I love Hilarie, I have always and will always, and I don't have any problem with her," Lenz told Alex Cooper.
That sounds great on paper, right? But fans aren't convinced. The timeline of the "fallout" aligns almost perfectly with the release of their respective memoirs. In 2023, Hilarie released Grimoire Girl. Shortly after, Joy announced her own memoir, Dinner for Vampires, which details her harrowing ten-year experience in a cult.
✨ Don't miss: Owen Wilson Daughter Lyla: Why the Actor Still Hasn't Met Her
The drama? The covers looked... strikingly similar. Both featured a circular portrait of the author against a dark, textured background. Hilarie posted a meme shortly after Joy's announcement that read, "I don't think imitation is the highest form of flattery, I think it's annoying."
Ouch.
Why Hilarie Burton Really Left Drama Queens
When Hilarie announced she was stepping away from the Drama Queens podcast in July 2024, the official reason was logistical. Her character, Peyton Sawyer, famously left One Tree Hill at the end of Season 6. Hilarie explained that since she wasn't on set for Seasons 7 through 9, she didn't feel she had the "behind-the-scenes" authority to keep hosting.
She was replaced by Robert Buckley (who played Clay Evans). It made sense.
But here is the thing: earlier in the podcast's run, Hilarie was vocal about how excited she was to watch the later seasons for the first time. She had never seen them. So, the sudden pivot to "I have nothing to contribute" felt like a convenient exit strategy to many listeners.
It’s also no secret that reliving the One Tree Hill years was exhausting for her. She mentioned in her farewell episode that she felt she could finally "take a deep breath" because she didn't have to psych herself up to relive the trauma of that set every week. When you add a personal rift with a co-host to the emotional weight of a toxic past workplace, it’s easy to see why someone would just... walk away.
The "Cult" Connection and Different Worldviews
If you really want to understand the friction between Bethany Joy Lenz and Hilarie Burton, you have to look at how they’ve changed since 2003. They are very different women now.
Joy’s memoir, Dinner for Vampires, is a heavy read. She spent a decade—much of it while filming One Tree Hill—in a high-demand religious group (a cult) in Idaho. She was living a double life. On set, she was a TV star; in private, her finances and personal life were being controlled by a group called "The Big House Family."
- Joy's Perspective: She was raised evangelical and has spoken about how her rigid worldviews back then made it hard to connect with her costars. She’s admitted she was "difficult" because she refused to do certain scenes based on "religious modesty."
- Hilarie's Perspective: Hilarie has become a fierce, outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and progressive causes.
There was a moment in early 2024 where Sophia Bush posted a quote about "cult experts" who preach "bigotry and homophobia." Many fans interpreted this as a direct shot at Joy. While they all claim to love each other, it’s clear that their internal "languages" for discussing faith, politics, and trauma no longer align.
Is a One Tree Hill Reboot Still Happening?
Despite the tension, a One Tree Hill sequel series was announced for Netflix in late 2024, produced by Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush. Notably, Bethany Joy Lenz’s name was missing from the initial production credits.
When asked if the "misunderstandings" would stop her from joining the reboot, Joy was adamant. She told People magazine she would never want to go back to that world with animosity. She seems open to it. Whether Hilarie and Sophia are ready to invite her into the production side is a different story.
Currently, as we move through 2026, the status of their friendship remains "it's complicated." They aren't exactly posting TikToks together, but they aren't engaging in a public war of words either. They are middle-aged women handling a friendship breakup (or a "friendship pause") with as much grace as the public eye allows.
What This Teaches Us About Long-Term Friendships
We want our favorite TV stars to be best friends forever. It makes the show feel more "real." But the reality is that people outgrow each other. You can survive a toxic boss together—as these women did with Mark Schwahn—and still find that you don't have much in common twenty years later.
If you're a fan watching this play out, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Validation isn't zero-sum. You can support Joy’s bravery in speaking out about her cult experience while also supporting Hilarie’s right to set boundaries for her own mental health.
- Social media isn't the full story. A "block" or an "unfollow" is a loud statement, but it doesn't capture the private conversations (or lack thereof) happening behind the scenes.
- Closure is personal. Sometimes "healing" means walking away from the people who remind you of your darkest times, even if those people were your "sisters" at the time.
The best way to stay updated is to keep an eye on official project announcements. If Joy is eventually cast in the Netflix sequel, it’ll be the clearest sign yet that the "Drama Queens" have found a way to bridge the gap. Until then, we’re all just residents of Tree Hill, watching from the sidelines.
For those wanting to support the actresses individually, you can find Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir Dinner for Vampires at most major retailers, and Hilarie Burton’s Grimoire Girl is still a staple for those looking into her journey of "work-witch" lifestyle and community building.