One Tree HillandChicago P.D.star Sophia Bush has emotionally reflected on the abuse she suffered on the set of one of her shows. Bush shot to global fame in her breakout role of Brooke Davis in the CW smash-hit teen dramaOne Tree Hill, before a starring turn as Erin Lindsay inChicago P.D., and a recurring role asDr. Cass Beckman inGrey’s Anatomyseason 21. She also co-hosts the podcastDrama Queens, with formerOne Tree Hillco-stars Bethany Joy Lenz and Hilary Burton.
In a recent interview on Monica Lewinsky’s podcastReclaiming(via YouTube), Bush opened up on her traumatic experiences on the set of a show she doesn’t specifically name.Bush details that she received “every kind of abuse” from an older manduring her time on one of her shows. Bush discusses her time onOne Tree Hill, and her first experience of workplace trauma, before revealing she had a whole new trauma at a new job she moved onto after the hit teen drama. Read her full quote below:
“And then I went to work on this other show that was on my bucket list, and then I had this whole other trauma. I had a workplace, ongoing, trauma, you know, revolving around an unending situation with someone old enough to be my father. And I was like, what is happening? And when I chose to shift it, it was because I finally had to.”
When asked if it was a professional inappropriate relationship, or romantic, she continued…
“Professional. Meant to be professional, but was emotionally abusive. Every kind of abusive, yeah. And, when I look back on it, I had the opportunity after two years, to go. And I did the thing I’d learned to do and said, I will not have my integrity diminshed by someone else’s behavior. I will be unflappable. I will come to work and do my job, and I couldn’t.
And the next two years were like physical hell for me, and to go through, you know, spontaneous illness, wake up covered in hives, to have really crazy weight fluctuation, to start to watch my hair fall out, to struggle with insomnia, to have such crippling anxiety as an extrovert who loves people, to be hit with anxiety in a way that I could barely be out of the house. If people touched me in public, I like, I would jump out of my skin. I couldn’t talk to people anymore, I couldn’t talk to strangers anymore. I couldn’t be looked at anymore.
And especially in a work environment, if people came in, like if I was trying to get out of set and in a car, and I got approached by people on the street, it felt like a physical attack. My body was not my own, and I couldn’t regulate anyone. And because I had to go to work ready for war all the time and I had to learn where to stand to not, you know, get elbowed in the ribs, or how to block a scene to not be touched. It was just so exhausting. Yeah, it was bad.”
What This Means For Bush’s Workplace Experiences
Though She Doesn’t Name Names, It’s Pretty Clear Bush Is Referring To Chicago P.D.
Though Bush doesn’t specifically name names, it seems like she is talking about herChicago P.D.experiences with series lead Jason Beghe.Bush leftChicago P.D.in 2017, and a year later revealed on-set abuse at the hands of Beghe to be the reason behind her departure, so it’s pretty clear this is what she is referring to.Varietyreported that, following the actress’s departure, NBCUniversal (the network behindChicago P.D.), launched an investigation into Beghe’s anger issues. The actor would later release a statement admitting to engaging in aggressive behavior.
Her trauma might have caused her to shy away from network shows, but it is great that she has felt empowered enough to speak out about her experiences.
Tragically, this was not the first time Bush had experienced on-set abuse in her career, with widely reportedallegations of inappropriate behavior fromOne Tree Hillcreator Mark Schwahn. From Bush’s comments, the abuse in (what was likely)Chicago P.D.seems like it was worse, and that she was specifically targeted, with her and Beghe having a fractious relationship. Ultimately, though Bush left the show due to the trauma, it seems like she wanted to leave sooner, but convinced herself not to.
Our Take On Bush’s Abuse Experience
They May Have Colored Her Acting Experiences, But It’s Great That She’s Speaking Out
Understandably, Bush’s acting career seems to have been impacted a lot by her abuse experiences. Since departingChicago P.D.she has only starred in one show, the short-livedmedical dramaGood Sam. Her trauma might have caused her to shy away from network shows, but it is great that she has felt empowered enough to speak out about her experiences. Bush’s career moving forward will likely be shaped by her abuse, and the hope will be that she can find a comfortable working environment again in the future.
Source:Reclaiming/YouTube &THR
Chicago P.D.
Cast
Chicago P.D.: This police drama, set in Chicago’s District 21, follows the distinct units within the Chicago Police Department—uniformed officers addressing street crimes and an Intelligence Unit tackling major offenses such as organized crime and drug trafficking, capturing the dedication of those who serve and protect their community.
One Tree Hill
Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill chronicles the complicated and intertwined lives of its residents. Following half-brothers and rivals Lucas and Nathan Scott as they compete both for positions on their school basketball team and for the affection of their fellow students, Tree Hill’s community is built around community spirit and the complex workings of the ever-growing Scott family.
