Hilarie Burton Says Chad Michael Murray Called One Tree Hill Creator Over Alleged Sexual Harassment

Hilarie Burton said it A hill of trees Co-star Chad Michael Murray was one of the few to stand up for her against the show’s creator, Mark Schwahn.

Burton and Murray play love interests Peyton Sawyer (Burton) and Lucas Scott (Murray) in the long-running US teen drama.

In 2017, Burton was among the 18 women A hill of trees Cast and crew members who claimed to have been sexually harassed by Schwahn.

The showrunner never commented on the allegations and was fired A hill of trees the same year.

In the latest episode of Melodramatic people Podcast hosted by Burton’s A hill of trees With co-stars Bethany Joy Lenz and Sophia Bush, the actress was asked about her decision not to report Schwahn at the time.

“Oh, I have. I’ve told all sorts of people. Honey, I told everyone,” Burton replied.

“Chad [Michael Murray] walked up and says, “What are you doing?” That’s what he told our boss in the bar. He watched our boss grab me in front of a lot of people, and you know, Chad had nothing to lose because he knew our boss hated him anyway. A lot of people had a lot to lose, so don’t talk when you have a lot to lose. But [our boss] was so comfortable that it wasn’t something he had a problem with. [He thought]’I can do whatever I want to her in public if her boyfriend is there.’”

Bush – who was married to Murray from 2005 to 2006 – said she believes Murray is “protected” from Schwahn because he is “#1 on the call list.”

“He had the most power, so he could come and push our boss off you and engage in a fight. And I’m glad he did. I want everyone to follow this example,” she said. “Thank god Hilarie for having that moment with Chad who was already at odds with our boss.”

Burton has spoken out about the alleged abuse she previously suffered at the hands of Schwahn. In a 2020 interview with PeopleBurton claimed she was “groomed” by the showrunner, who she previously claimed was verbally abusive, touched her inappropriately, and kissed her against her will.

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“I was told that if you say anything, your career is over and you’ll be labeled a troublemaker,” said Burton, who was in her 20s at the time of filming.

She added: “I haven’t said anything in a decade. And as a result, people after me have been abused. The guilt that comes with that is really difficult.”

In the 2017 letter accusing Schwahn, the female cast and crew members wrote: “Mark Schwahn’s conduct during the filming of A hill of trees was something of an “open secret”.

“Many of us have been psychologically and emotionally manipulated to varying degrees. More than one of us is still in treatment for post-traumatic stress. Many of us were placed in awkward positions and quickly learned to fight back, sometimes physically, because we were made to realize that the superiors in the room were not the protectors they were meant to be.”

“Many of us have been spoken to in ways that have ranged from deeply disturbing to traumatizing to completely illegal,” they continued. “And some of us were put in positions where we felt physically unsafe. More than one woman on our show has had her career at risk.”

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