Summary

• Hilarie Burton left One Tree Hill after season 6 to explore new opportunities in film and television, and she has no regrets about her decision.
• Burton and other One Tree Hill cast accused the show's creator, Mark Schwahn, of sexual harassment on the set of the teen drama series.
• Although Burton was open to reprising her role as Peyton Sawyer, she never returned to One Tree Hill for the final three seasons.

The Big Five of One Tree Hill — Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott, James Lafferty as Nathan Scott, Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer, Bethany Joy Lenz as Haley James Scott, and Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis — starred together in the teen drama series for six seasons, until Murray and Burton left after the season 6 finale, leaving just Lafferty, Lenz, and Bush as the original (young) main cast in the final three seasons. The actors and actresses in the WB/CW television show often came and went throughout its nine seasons, but losing Murray and Burton was a devastating blow to viewers.

Burton's Peyton was introduced in the pilot episode as the mysterious and moody cheerleader who was dating the popular jock (despite them not being right for one another at all). Over the course of the series, Peyton exhibited significant character development as she learned to be more open and trusting with the people who loved her. Peyton and Lucas's story (and the love triangle between Lucas, Peyton, and Brooke) was a focal point of One Tree Hill, so it only made sense that the two cast would depart the show as a duo, but Burton had her own reasons for leaving.

Hilarie Burton Left One Tree Hill To Explore New Opportunities

The Star Didn't Regret Moving On From The Show

Just before the One Tree Hill season 6 finale aired in May 2009, news broke surrounding Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton's departure from the show. Their contracts expired following season 6, and neither actor chose to renew them, even though the series had been renewed for a seventh season. Burton's reason for leaving was very simple — she wanted to spread her wings and explore other opportunities in the world of film and television, and she has no regrets about doing so. During an interview with former costar Jana Kramer on her podcast, Whine Down, in 2020, the actress explained:

"I don’t regret that at all. I knew that I needed to start something new. It was time. I had a big chip on my shoulder and I just needed to put it down."

As she wrote about in her 2020 autobiography, The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm, Burton had experienced a lot of turmoil in the years leading up to her exit from One Tree Hill. So, when the opportunity to leave (the expiration of her contract) presented itself, the actress jumped at the chance to make a change in her life. Following her departure, Burton met her future husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, secured a starring role in White Collar, and began filming Christmas movies made for television.

Hilarie Burton Accused One Tree Hill's Creator Of Assault

Several Cast And Crew Have Spoken Out About Mark Schwahn's Behavior

During the Me Too movement, Hilarie Burton, along with many other former One Tree Hill stars and crew spoke out about the creator's inappropriate interactions with them during their time filming the series. In 2017, they alleged that the show's creator and showrunner, Mark Schwahn, had sexually harassed them while on set, leading to an unsafe work environment for some of the women employed by the show.

Burton has come forward and shared her individual experiences with Schwahn but has never cited them as a reason for her leaving One Tree Hill

In the years since Burton has come forward and shared her individual experiences with Schwahn but has never cited them as a reason for her leaving One Tree Hill. Schwahn's behavior likely caused problems on set for her and the other women, though.

The One Tree Hill Star Never Reprised Her Role As Peyton Sawyer

Hilarie Burton's Exit Was A Permanent Move

Although Hilarie Burton revealed she was open to reprising her role as Peyton Sawyer following her exit, the actress never returned to One Tree Hill during the show's final three seasons. The last time fans saw her character, she was riding off into the sunset with Lucas and their newborn daughter, Sawyer Scott, at the end of the season 6 finale. Lucas and Peyton decided to leave Tree Hill after getting married and having Sawyer, and Lucas was the only one of the two to ever return (at least, before the series ended in 2012).

Even though Peyton was not seen onscreen, she was still mentioned in the series following her exit.

Chad Michael Murray reprised his role as Lucas Scott during the ninth season's seventh episode when Haley James Scott called for her best friend's help. Nathan Scott had gone missing, and Haley wanted Lucas to bring the couple's two kids — Jamie and Lydia — to his and Peyton's home while she searched for her husband. So, even though Peyton was not seen onscreen, she was still mentioned in the series following her exit. Peyton got her happy ending in One Tree Hill, and it seems as if Burton has, as well.

Hilarie Burton Still Discusses One Tree Hill On The Drama Queens Podcast

Burton And Her Co-Stars Continue To Release Many Details Of Life Behind The Scenes Of One Tree Hill

Like several stars of popular shows from yesteryear, Hilarie Burton has tapped into her time as Peyton on One Tree Hill by releasing a podcast, titled Drama Queens, discussing and dissecting the show, offering an in-depth retrospective for longtime fans. Burton appears with Bethany Joy Lenz and Sophia Bush, and the rewatch podcast had its debut episode in 2021. There have been 173 episodes and counting since then, and is currently available on both Audible and iTunes. The trio even went on tour in 2022, doing multiple episodes in front of a live audience.

Despite rumors of a feud between Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz in early 2024, Drama Queens is still going strong

Hilarie Burton has disclosed many details about her time on One Tree Hill and her exit from the show on Drama Queens several times, and for fans of the show who want to know her side of the story there's perhaps no better source of information. Despite rumors of a feud between Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz in early 2024 (via Glamour), Drama Queens is still going strong, with new episodes still being released as of June 2024.