Former One Tree Hill stars Hilarie Burton and Chad Michael Murray are setting the record straight about their unceremonious exit from the show prior to its seventh season.

In a candid interview on the Drama Queens podcast, Burton revealed that she and Murray, who played beloved couple Peyton Sawyer and Lucas Scott, were completely blindsided when they learned the series had been renewed for another season - but they hadn’t actually been offered new contracts.

“Chad looks at me and he’s like, ‘Have you even gotten an offer? I was like, ‘No,’ and he’s like, ‘I haven’t gotten an offer,’” Burton recalled, explaining that this happened while they were filming a scene for season 6. “And so around us, everyone is hugging and high-fiving. I mean, it felt like balloons were dropping from the ceiling. Everybody was so f–king pumped. And he and I just kind of sat there and we knew it was coming.”

Burton and Murray, who were among the show’s highest-paid actors, realized in that moment that they were being written out. “And he and I were the highest paid actors on the show, and we knew we were on the chopping block,” Burton said.

The actress described the experience as a “betrayal,” but one that ultimately proved to be a blessing in disguise. “My life is awesome because of that betrayal,” she shared. “I met my husband [Jeffrey Dean Morgan], I had my kids, I got to do White Collar with Willie Garson. My life is so much better because I was betrayed here.”

Burton and Murray’s abrupt departure was a major source of controversy at the time, with fans speculating about the reasons behind their exit. This latest revelation from Burton provides much-needed clarity and helps dispel lingering misconceptions about how their time on the show came to an end.

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Though the experience may have been painful in the moment, it’s clear that Burton has made peace with it and is grateful for the positive changes that followed. Her candid comments offer a valuable behind-the-scenes look at the realities of the entertainment industry and the challenges actors can face, even on the set of a beloved TV series.