Sophia Bush reveals she befriended women allegedly linked to ex-husband Chad Michael Murray. Says she felt 'shame' for ignoring co-star’s warning against dating him

Actor Sophia Bush has opened up about her short-lived marriage to One Tree Hill co-star Chad Michael Murray, revealing that she has become friends with some of the women he allegedly cheated on her with. The actress also recalled how her close friend and co-star Hilarie Burton had warned her against dating Murray, admitting that she now regrets not listening to the advice.

Bush discussed her past relationship and her upcoming memoir, And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes from a Life in Progress, during an appearance on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast on October 21.

Sophia Bush says she is friends with women linked to her ex-husband

During the conversation, Bush revealed that she has developed friendships with some of the women she believes were involved with Murray during their marriage.




She said these relationships are important to her, even though people might find it surprising that she is close to women associated with such a difficult chapter of her life.

“I wrote about some of the friendships I made with women who I think the world would probably think I would never speak to, that I really cherish. And frankly, when I look at the landscape, I’m like badass, badass, badass, badass. You did have great taste, bro, and like, congrats, you crushed. I’m like, ‘I get it.’ I’m just like, ‘Damn.’ Like, in a lineup, I’d take any one of us.”

Sophia Bush spoke warmly about the women, describing them as strong and impressive. She also made a light-hearted remark about Murray’s taste, joking that she could understand his choices and would happily pick any of the women herself.

The actress explained that the friendships have become possible because everyone has changed since those events. They are no longer the same people they were when the relationship and its surrounding controversies unfolded.

Hilarie Burton warned Sophia Bush against dating Chad Michael Murray

Sophia Bush also spoke about Hilarie Burton, her close friend and One Tree Hill co-star, who had advised her not to date Murray. According to Bush, Burton had worked with Murray on another show before they became co-stars on One Tree Hill, and the experience had not been a positive one.

Looking back, Sophia Bush acknowledged that Burton had given her sensible advice. However, she said she did not have the maturity or life experience at the time to understand why her friend was concerned.

Bush recalled that “For years, I thought that’s why we stopped being two peas in a pod,” Bush recalled, noting that she “felt so much shame. She was right about who he was then.”

She joked that the “trolls” would “have a field day” over the comments and insisted it’s “all good” now. Bush said the “distance” between the pals likely resulted because “I didn’t listen. She was right.”

The actress has now come to recognise that Burton's warning was well-intentioned.

Bush and Murray separated five months after their wedding

Bush and Murray met while working on One Tree Hill and began dating in 2003. They married in April 2005, when both were in their early twenties, but separated just five months later. Their divorce was finalised in December 2006.

Allegations of infidelity surrounded the breakup. Murray has not publicly responded to Bush's latest comments. In 2023, he addressed allegations from his former girlfriend Erin Foster that he had cheated on her with Bush, saying he did not want to revisit the issue and preferred to focus on his present and future.

In her memoir, Bush also reflects on why she decided to write about the marriage after largely avoiding the subject for years. She explained that leaving out such a widely reported part of her life would have been difficult, given how extensively it had been covered.

Bush said she has moved on from the relationship and wishes Murray well. She noted that they were young when they married and have since grown into adults with their own lives and families.

And I Will Tell You Mine: Notes from a Life in Progress is scheduled for release on October 27.