Bethany Joy Lenz
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage,
After revealing last year that she was part of a cult for a decade, Bethany Joy Lenz is finally revealing the name of the group she joined.
Unveiling the cover of her upcoming memoir “Dinner for Vampires” on Thursday also identified the cult the “One Tree Hill” actress joined: a church group called “The Big House Family.”
“Being a writer has been a great, private joy in my life since I was about 12,” she shared on Instagram. “This is not the first book I thought I would write publicly, but as difficult as it is to untangle this topic, I am grateful to be able to share my story in my own way. It's a story about forgiveness and a guide to how manipulation works, accompanied by heartache and humor. We all make mistakes and I hope Dinner for Vampires reminds you that no matter what strange paths you've taken, you're not alone.”
Publisher Simon & Schuster describes the upcoming memoir as a chronicle of Lenz's “secret double life in a cult.”
The publisher's description reads: “An only child who often had to fend for herself and always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she was looking for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives . However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister – a slowly spun web of manipulation, abuse and fear under the guise of a church alliance called “The Big House Family.”
“Little by little, Lenz began to give up her autonomy, eventually moving to the family's compound in the Pacific Northwest, overseen by a domineering minister who would convince Lenz to marry one of his sons, and, without her knowledge, continually receive millions of her television earnings consumed.” The editor's description continues. “Her on-set family carer, 'Maoist fight session'-inspired meetings in the basement of a dirty house and regular consultations with the 'leadership' were just some of the tactics she used to maintain her loyalty. It was only when she became a mother that Lenz found the courage to leave and spare her child a similar fate.”
During an appearance on Southern Living's Biscuits & Jam podcast last year, Lenz opened up about being part of a cult throughout her time on the teen drama series and the support she received from her co-stars had walked away from it.
“I was a smart person. I was a good actor. “You can’t be a good actor without being smart,” she said. “You can’t dissect a script without being able to judge things. But I had a big blind spot in my life – and everyone does – and I had to solve it on my own.”
“I feel like a lot of the people there knew, whether consciously or unconsciously, that just their presence and their encouragement and the way they let me know that even though I was… something was strange made a big difference. “It made me feel safe when it came time for me to leave that group,” she continued.
“Dinner for Vampires” will be released on October 22nd.