Sophia Bush, renowned for her portrayal of Brooke Davis on the popular television series 'One Tree Hill,' recently shared her on-set disputes with her boss during an appearance on Ashley Graham's Pretty Big Deal podcast.
In her discussion, the 37-year-old actress disclosed multiple clashes she had with her boss and the writers, specifically regarding scenes where she was required to depict her teenage character in lingerie.
Bush refused to comply with these requests without putting up a fight.
Reflecting on the past, she acknowledged that she was initially unaware of the power dynamics involved, but now recognizes the inappropriateness of the situation.
She recollected the moment she confronted her boss, urging them to cease writing such scenes as they were unsuitable for a 16-year-old girl seeking validation through such means.
Shocking and dishearteningly, her boss responded by attributing these scenes to her physical attributes.
In a bold act of defiance, Bush appeared on set for the next episode wearing a turtleneck and threatened to continue dressing that way unless the inappropriate scenes were discontinued.
At the time, she did not fully comprehend the bravery she exhibited in standing up against inappropriate behavior.
This is not the first instance in which Bush has spoken out about the misconduct she endured on the set of 'One Tree Hill.'
In November 2017, along with 17 other former female cast and crew members, she accused the show's creator, Mark Schwahn, of harassment.
Schwahn has never addressed these allegations, and in December 2017, he was removed from his position as showrunner of E!'s 'The Royals following similar accusations.
Bush also addressed her departure from the television series 'Chicago P.D.,' attributing it to the toxic environment and her own personal ordeal in the era of "#MeToo" while on set.
Despite having signed a 6-year contract, she chose to leave the show at the end of season four due to the ongoing conflicts that made it impossible for her to continue working there.
Her decision occurred before the #MeToo movement gained significant traction after the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
During the podcast, Bush emphasized the significance of men being better advocates and allies for women in the workplace.
She revealed that some male colleagues from 'Chicago P.D.' expressed annoyance with her candidness regarding her experiences.
Bush called upon men to support women by speaking up at the moment and condemning inappropriate behavior.
Despite the prominence of the #MeToo movement, she believes that substantial change has yet to occur.
She underscored the necessity of holding perpetrators accountable rather than victimizing the survivors and suggested that men taking a stand against inappropriate behavior would make a substantial difference in the workplace.
