Fans of the beloved TV series One Tree Hill were taken by surprise when Bethany Joy Lenz, known for her role as Haley James Scott, revealed she once shared a real-life kiss with her costar Paul Johansson, who played the notorious Dan Scott.
During the February 24 episode of her Drama Queens podcast, Lenz opened up about the unexpected moment, admitting, “I have kissed Paul in real life, and he’s a good kisser.” This revelation left her cohosts and former One Tree Hill stars Hilarie Burton Morgan and Sophia Bush stunned, prompting them to press for more details. Lenz, however, remained coy, responding, “Well, you know, we’re friends… you never know what’s gonna happen.”
While she refrained from disclosing when the kiss happened, Lenz reflected on how awkward it felt filming a similar scene with Johansson in the show’s sixth season. The episode, set in a 1940s-themed alternate reality, featured her character being reluctantly kissed by Dan Scott, played by Johansson. Despite the strangeness of the situation, Lenz acknowledged that their offscreen friendship helped them navigate the scene.
“It felt strange because by that point, we were super close,” Lenz recalled. “He was probably my best friend on the show at the time. But he’s a good kisser, so it was weird to be doing a ‘struggle kiss’ with someone you consider a friend.”
Lenz also recounted the dramatic slap that followed the scripted kiss in the episode. “He was like, ‘Just hit me,’ and I said, ‘Paul, I don’t want to hit you.’ He insisted, ‘Just hit me!’ So I smacked him,” she shared. “What you saw on camera was the real deal for sure.”
Drama Queens, hosted by Lenz, Burton, and Bush, revisits each episode of One Tree Hill, delving into behind-the-scenes stories and personal reflections from their time on the show, which concluded in 2012 after nine successful seasons. While their discussions often explore difficult moments, they also celebrate the strong bonds formed among the cast.
In November, several One Tree Hill cast members reunited to commemorate the show’s 20th anniversary. Austin Nichols, who portrayed Julian Baker, shared his joy on social media, writing, “Got to hang out with some great humans this weekend. Old friends, old stories, lots of laughs. And made a bunch of new friends. Thank you to everyone who made this happen!”
Despite the passage of time, the enduring friendships and cherished memories from One Tree Hill continue to resonate with its devoted fanbase, making moments like Lenz’s candid confession even more special.
