'One Tree Hill' Stars Jana Kramer & Bethany Joy Lenz Reminisce About The Show's 'Very Divided Set'!

There may only be one Tree Hill, but there was apparently more than a single clique that formed within the cast of the teen drama throughout its nine-season run.

One Tree Hill stars Jana Kramer and Bethany Joy Lenz sat down for an interview on Kramer’s podcast, Whine Down With Jana Kramer, on Monday, where they reminisced about their time working on the hit CW series.

Both actresses had largely positive things to say about their time on the show, but they agreed there was one big downside: the cast was apparently “very divided”!

Kramer starred as Alex Dupré for the show’s final three years, well after Season 5’s four-year time jump saw the characters grow into mature(-ish) adults. But even though they were no longer in high school by that point, the cast was allegedly still pretty cliquey behind the scenes.

The mother-of-two explained:

“It was hard for us because I felt like when we came on the show, just being so honest, it was a very divided set. I feel like everyone already kinda had their places and it was either, ‘You’re going to be on the A-team or the B-team?’ It was just tricky.”

Ugh… teen drama(s).

Lenz, who starred as Haley James Scott throughout OTH’s entire run, agreed there was some tension on set.

Kramer went on to blame the allegedly divisive set on the show’s creator, Mark Schwahn — who was accused of sexual harassment and emotional abuse in 2017 by over a dozen of OTH’s female cast and crew members.

The 35-year-old actress mused:

“I think our creator kinda created that environment, as well… I don’t know what he’s doing now. But that was probably the hardest part about [being on the show].”

Overall, though, Kramer said she very much enjoyed playing the role of Alex, adding:

“I loved my character, she was super fun and spunky. I got to be super creative.”

Lenz agreed, and recalled just how fun it was to film scenes with her friend:

“You were such a firecracker, you always had such a great energy I loved being in scenes with you because there was a firecracker in the room and you never knew when it was gonna go off. It was great!”

While the costars concurred the culture of the set would be much better if the show was ever rebooted, Lenz noted a revival wouldn’t be in the cast’s best interest because Schwahn would still be making money off the new episodes.

The Pearson star explained:

“None of it would have to go to the showrunner. The problem is the creator of the show, on any incarnation of the show … that’s a big issue. And I think that would be the big thing standing in the way… Unless he was willing to donate it all or something.”

If a reboot their showrunner couldn’t profit from did exist, Lenz said she believes the now older cast would “really enjoy each other’s company,” noting:

“It would be great to go back and not have it feel like it was divided in any way or when we were going through a rough patch. I think we’re all older now, it’d be so much easier to really enjoy each other’s company and enjoy showing up at work, appreciate having a job, appreciate being someplace where we know we have such a huge fan base.”

Sounds like if One Tree Hill was ever revived, the cast would all be on the same team this time around!

But we have to wonder… who was on the A-team and B-team back in the day? Share your guesses in the comments!

[Image via WENN]