Sophia Bush is opening up about the dark reality behind her time on one of television’s biggest crime dramas, claiming she endured relentless abuse from a much older man while filming a show she once considered a dream job. During a candid appearance on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky, the One Tree Hill alum opened up about the trauma she experienced while working on a series that had been on her professional “bucket list.” The show is widely believed to be Chicago P.D., which she exited in 2017 after four seasons.
“I had a workplace, ongoing trauma revolving around an unending situation with someone old enough to be my father,” Bush revealed. “And I was like, what is happening?” Though Bush didn’t name anyone directly, her comments strongly suggest the misconduct occurred on the set of the NBC procedural. She portrayed Detective Erin Lindsay on Chicago P.D. for four seasons before her departure in 2017. Reflecting on her decision to initially stay, she explained, “I will not have my integrity diminished by someone else’s behavior. I will be unflappable. I will come to work and do my job.” But that, she admitted, quickly became impossible.
Bush described the following years as “physical hell,” plagued by a range of health issues. These included spontaneous illness, hives, hair loss, dramatic weight fluctuations, anxiety, and insomnia. “To be hit with anxiety in such a way that I could barely be out of the house, if people touched me in public, I would jump out of my skin,” she said. “Because I had to go to work ready for war all the time.” The actress explained that she became hyper-aware of her surroundings on set, learning how to stand or block scenes to avoid being touched. “It was just exhausting,” she said.
Sophia Bush Alleges ‘Every Kind’ of Abuse from ‘Older Man’ on Set of Hit TV Show
Six months after leaving the series, Bush says an executive called to apologize. The apology acknowledged the network’s failure to address the behind-the-scenes issues she had endured. “They said, ‘We’re very aware we just made it out of [#MeToo] unscathed,’” she recalled with frustration. “And I was like, ‘Glad you did! I’m in so much therapy. I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD, but I’m thrilled you guys didn’t get dragged through the press!’”
While Bush didn’t identify the alleged abuser, speculation has arisen due to the age references in her comments. The creator of Chicago P.D., Dick Wolf, is 78, and former castmates Elias Koteas and Jason Beghe are both in their 60s. The show’s four male showrunners are also reportedly in their 50s.
Bush’s revelations are yet another example of a high-profile actress speaking out about the toll of toxic workplace culture in Hollywood. They also serve as a stark reminder that, even in the wake of the #MeToo movement, there is still much work to be done.
