Hilary Burton defends ‘sister’ Sophia Bush after Erin Foster’s Chad Michael Murray claims he cheated
Hilary Burton has come to the defense of Sophia Bush following Erin Foster’s claim that she had an affair with Chad Michael Murray while they were dating.
The 41-year-old actress took to Instagram on Friday to refute Foster’s claims.
Using the app’s Stories feature, she posted a newspaper article about the accusation as she wrote: “Ugh. Cringe. I got off my red eye flight and multiple people sent me this headline.’
She added: “As a person who had a front row seat then? This wasn’t it. We were all told that you broke up which is why our guy (pursued) her. Now this is being spun to make my sister look like an insolent harlot.’
Fiercely defending her close friend, she added: ‘And if she’s someone’s whore, she’s mine!’
Ride or die: Hilary Burton defends Sophia Bush after Erin Foster claims she had an affair with Chad Michael Murray while they were dating
You don’t have it: The 41-year-old actress took to Instagram on Friday to refute Foster’s claims
Burton went straight to the source of the drama as she tagged Foster in her post.
“Nice to talk about @erinfoster,” she wrote, adding, “You deserve the truth too.”
The message went on to read: “There are so many unnamed sources making claims about the woman I love, so screw him. I will be the named source. A lot of internet voices are nasty, and as a person who knows the real timeline? It would be funny if (it wasn’t) so harmful.’
Foster claimed her then-boyfriend Chad cheated on her with his One Tree Hill co-star Sofia during their romantic relationship.
During a conversation with his sister Sarah Foster on The world’s first podcastactress — who dated Murray from 2001 to 2002 — came forward about the alleged affair after a fan wrote in asking them to share dating stories.
Erin referenced a post previously published by gossip site DeukMoi saying Murray ‘obviously cheated on her’, confirming: ‘I think so. He definitely cheated on me with her, in a rather unprecedented way.
She added: “While we were living together. Pretty cool.’
Erin’s revelation comes amid Bush’s new romance with women’s soccer star Ashlyn Harris, 39 — whose recent ex-wife Ali Krieger appeared to confirm that Harris cheated on her with Bush before filing for divorce in mid-September.
BFF: Sofia stepped out to support Hilary’s new book Grimoire Girl
Exposé: During a chat on the World’s First Podcast, Erin — who dated Murray from 2001 to 2002 — opened up about the alleged affair after a fan wrote to her asking her to share dating stories; in the picture in 2021
Bold claim: “I think so. He definitely cheated on me with her, in a pretty unprecedented way,” Foster said on her podcast; Chad in the picture with Sofia
Hilary and Sophia have maintained a close friendship in the years since they stopped working together on One Tree Hill.
This week Burton shared a photo of the two on social media during the Los Angeles leg of her book tour.
In a glowing caption, she wrote: “My love @sophiabush dropped everything to host my Grimoire Girl book tour in LA for @livetalksla. And of course, we both showed up in black velvet. She is my Owens sister. IIKIK.’
She added in a heartfelt message: “A lot of people will tell you they love you. But when someone walks up and shows up and ACTIVELY loves you? Hold them. Nurture them. Protect them.
“We had a fantastic conversation about the book which is still available for purchase by virtual viewers. And we drank midnight margaritas while holding hands and crying about where we came from and where we’re going.’
The former MTV VJ concluded: “I’m so happy to have 20 years with this woman written in the pages of my personal Grimoire. But the next 20??? We’ve only just begun. Sofia. Lockstep. You and me baby. You are so deeply good. I love you.’
Bush and Murray began dating in 2003 and married in 2005. The couple said “I do” in a ceremony in Santa Monica before celebrating with a reception at the Casa del Mar Hotel.
They divorced just five months later. At the time, there were rumors that Murray had allegedly cheated on his new wife with House of Wax co-star Paris Hilton.
TV family: Sophia and Chad (far left, left) with One Tree Hill co-stars Hilary Burton, James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Lentz in 2003.
Whirlwind: Bush and Murray started dating in 2003 and tied the knot in 2005, only to divorce five months later
Bush tried to annul the marriage on the grounds of fraud, but her efforts were unsuccessful, and the divorce was finally finalized in 2006.
“This is a difficult and unfortunate situation. I’m glad this is being resolved sooner rather than later,” she said in a statement she shared with PEOPLE in that time.
Reflecting on the relationship in 2014, she told Watch What Happens Live: “We were two stupid kids who shouldn’t have been in a relationship in the first place.”
‘To all the other partners who solved it, more power to you.’